The IT ministry decided to issue an order blocking the end-to-end encrypted email service at the request of TN police over a hoax bomb threat sent to 13 schools
Please explain. If someone uses a VPN, wouldn’t they still be able to access their email via the website and send/receive emails normally? The Indian government blocked all pornography IIRC some years(?) ago, but that hasn’t really stopped anyone. Won’t this also work the same way?
First, it’s that working through VPN is too technical for most of the population. Just think of the many people running without adblockers, or people who leave their lamps and chargers plugged in branched power extenders forever instead of opening up their wall and rewiring to get more outlets in a better place. if something is important and becomes inaccessible, like porn, people will learn what they need to get around the block. If there are easily available alternatives - as there is with email - those will be picked instead. This effectively cuts off over 90% of the users.
Then there is the case where it makes you more prosecutable if you do work around the blocking, even legally. I know this doesn’t sound fair, but it is to some degree necessary to make the unclear and muddy parts of the justice systems work. There is “innocent until proven guilty”, but “proven guilty” can sometimes be very subjective and based on circumstance, witness claims and “character profile”. if there is lack of clear evidence, but strong indicators that you did in fact collaborate illegally on insider trading, it will make a difference whether there is lack of evidence because the police could read all your communication and find nothing, or lack of evidence because you use encryption, VPNs and tend to burn all written notes you make at the end of the day.
Please explain. If someone uses a VPN, wouldn’t they still be able to access their email via the website and send/receive emails normally? The Indian government blocked all pornography IIRC some years(?) ago, but that hasn’t really stopped anyone. Won’t this also work the same way?
There are some layers to this.
First, it’s that working through VPN is too technical for most of the population. Just think of the many people running without adblockers, or people who leave their lamps and chargers plugged in branched power extenders forever instead of opening up their wall and rewiring to get more outlets in a better place. if something is important and becomes inaccessible, like porn, people will learn what they need to get around the block. If there are easily available alternatives - as there is with email - those will be picked instead. This effectively cuts off over 90% of the users.
Then there is the case where it makes you more prosecutable if you do work around the blocking, even legally. I know this doesn’t sound fair, but it is to some degree necessary to make the unclear and muddy parts of the justice systems work. There is “innocent until proven guilty”, but “proven guilty” can sometimes be very subjective and based on circumstance, witness claims and “character profile”. if there is lack of clear evidence, but strong indicators that you did in fact collaborate illegally on insider trading, it will make a difference whether there is lack of evidence because the police could read all your communication and find nothing, or lack of evidence because you use encryption, VPNs and tend to burn all written notes you make at the end of the day.
i think those people are less likely to be using something other than gmail in the first place
I think so?