This article looks at how the VPN provider has responded to the country’s new cybersecurity rules. These regulations require VPNs to store data for five years and keep logs for 180 days. However, new cybercrime laws in India are forcing VPN providers to compromise their core values. In a nutshell, the new rules force VPN providers to abandon their core values and operate with Indian IP addresses.
Exiting India Is A Major Blow To The Country’s IT Industry
Several foreign IT companies have recently announced their exits from India, including Samsung, Cairn Energy, Hutchison Telecommunications International, and Docomo. In the past, these firms have invested in India as the country offered them several tax benefits and a red carpet, but now these companies are opting to go elsewhere due to the slowdown in the economy and epidemic-related slowdown. The exits have taken a serious toll on the Indian IT industry and the government is scrambling to attract more foreign companies to the country.
Ford Motor Company, which had invested in India to build cars, is also pulling out. The company plans to close two plants by the end of 2022. It will continue to produce car engines for export in India, but it will no longer manufacture cars for the domestic market. Other foreign companies have left the country, including Harley-Davidson and General Motors, which both stopped making cars in India last year and massively curtailed their operations here. Ford’s exit is a blow to the IT industry in India, which is a key part of the economy.
New Indian Data Regulation Laws Require VPN Providers To Abandon Core Values
India’s government is enacting new data regulation laws and has asked all VPN providers to comply with them. The new rule is aimed at ensuring that internet users are protected from cyber attacks, and the government is saying this will help coordinate emergency measures and response activities. However, some VPN providers claim the new rule will lead to loopholes in cyber security. In response, the government is providing FAQs on the new regulations.
VPN providers in India are bracing for a legal battle. The Indian government has issued a directive requiring VPN service providers to store user data for five years. The rule is in direct contradiction to the core mission of VPNs. It also requires the storage of personal data for five years, which is counter-productive to VPNs’ core mission. Many VPN providers have already halted services in India in response to the new regulations.
To remain in business, VPN providers should adapt to these new rules. As a result, their core values will become redundant. For one thing, users will have to go through the KYC process and state their intention for using the service. If this doesn’t work, the government will be able to access their personal information and will begin levying penalties on them for non-compliance. This will make VPN services effectively illegal in India.
Surfshark Reverts To Virtual Servers With Indian IP Addresses
According to an article published by Reuters, Express VPN SurfShark is pulling back from India after it received criticism from users for not complying with government laws. These new laws in India require VPN providers to keep customer logs for up to five years. Although the new laws may affect the company, users in India will not notice any changes to their service. While Surfshark hasn’t released an exact date, the company says the move will occur before the new laws are implemented on June 27.
It Uses Uncrackable AES-256-GCM Encryption
The Express VPN service from Surfshark uses uncrackable AES-256-GCM encryption, which is the same standard used by most other high-end VPN providers. Surfshark has over 3,200 servers across 65 countries, and its features include split tunneling and an ad and malware blocker. It also offers a dedicated support site, which offers FAQs, guides, and tutorials.
While Surfshark offers a lot of security features, its logging policy is also important to note. The company has no reason to spy on its users. The Surfshark website also includes a warrant canary, which lists any action by the government that may affect the privacy of its users.
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