India weighs stricter VPN regulations to stop users from bypassing internet blocks

Date:
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:00:24 +0000

Description:
As major VPN providers refused to comply with existing data retention directives, the Indian government is working on a new legal framework that could force companies to establish a local office in the country. Here's everything we know.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter India is reportedly working on new VPN regulations Companies could be forced to establish an office in the country VPNs found workaround to previous restrictions India is working on an expansive new legal framework to clamp down on virtual private networks (VPNs), with proposals reportedly including mandatory local offices, designated compliance officers, and even prison terms for non-compliance.

According to The Indian Express , the upcoming rules aim to make VPN
providers legally liable when citizens use their tools to circumvent government-mandated content blocks. "In the last few months, we have been observing that users are able to bypass content, accounts, and online
services that have been blocked by the government on various grounds by using VPN services ," an anonymous senior government official told reporters.

This new set of rules is also seen as necessary, officials admitted, as the controversial data retention law enforced in 2022 by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has proved to be unsuccessful.

The directive legally requires VPN firms, data centers, and cloud providers
to log sensitive user information including real names, verified IP addresses, and usage patterns for up to five years, and surrender it to authorities upon request. You may like Massive VPN surge hits India as government blocks Telegram over exam fraud 'VPNs must make reasonable
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Yet, major VPN companies, including the likes of ExpressVPN , NordVPN , Hide.me , Surfshark , and Proton VPN , found a simple way to avoid compliance
removing their physical servers from the country.

"They have simply refused to comply. So, the need for a full-fledged law is being felt," the senior official told The Indian Express. What's at stake for India's VPN users? Beyond encrypting user data to boost privacy and security, virtual private networks (VPNs) spoof IP addresses, allowing users to bypass local, state-enforced geo-restrictions.

This capability has become critical for local internet users. Last month, India experienced a massive spike in VPN downloads after the government temporarily blocked the messaging app Telegram due to concerns over exam fraud.

Just weeks earlier, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) ordered VPN firms to actively block access to the decentralized prediction platform Polymarke t, threatening legal repercussions if they refused. What to read next Russia's major internet services instructed on how to detect VPNs The best VPNs for India: we've found top choices using on the ground expert testing Russias solution to its VPN crackdown breaking the internet? A state-owned VPN

The proposed framework aims to hand New Delhi the necessary legal teeth to force VPN providers into enforcing these content bans on the government's behalf. Digital rights groups frequently criticize India's aggressive
approach to censorship; according to data trackers, the country consistently leads the world in government-imposed internet shutdowns .

While specific details of the draft framework remain scarce, leaked proposals suggest that offshore VPN companies will be required to establish a physical corporate presence in India and appoint local compliance officers to act as direct government liaisons.

Criminal penalties for non-compliance are also on the table, including potential prison sentences for local employees if an order is ignored. (Image credit: Shutterstock) However, serious questions remain over how authorities plan to enforce these rules. For many global VPN providers, simply keeping their physical servers outside of Indian borders has previously been enough
to circumvent local jurisdiction.

It is also unlikely that premium, strict no-logs services will fundamentally alter their server infrastructure to comply with New Delhi's demands especially after resisting a similar ultimatum four years ago.

Dr. Pete Membrey, Chief Research Officer at ExpressVPN, pointed back to the company's 2022 decision to become the first major provider to pull its physical servers from India, confirming that its stance remains.

"Well evaluate when a proposal is published," Membrey told TechRadar, adding that "ExpressVPN will continue to work hard to keep users connected to the open and free internet, no matter where they are located."

A Surfshark spokesperson also said that the company remains committed to upholding the privacy of its users.

TechRadar reached out to India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and CERT-In for further clarification on the draft framework and an expected enforcement timeline. Neither agency responded
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-privacy-security/india-weighs-stricter-vpn-r egulations-to-stop-users-from-bypassing-internet-blocks


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