Messaging apps may lose biggest USP

Messaging apps WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal may have to dilute their biggest privacy proposition for millions of users in India — end-to-end encryption. The government has mandated that they need to trace the originator of flagged messages that contribute to crimes of a severe nature, such as those related to the country’s security and sovereignty, and rape. Critics said the new rules will undermine privacy and freedom of expression.

Platforms such as Telegram and Signal, which have gained users in India recently, are also expected to come under pressure to comply with the new rules. WhatsApp and Signal have end-to-end encryption for all messages while Telegram offers it on certain features.

The government isn’t insisting on scrapping encryption on these messaging platforms, information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.