Looks like, we are heading back into the pre-Independence era, only this time we have to fight for our digital rights. While we continue to struggle for net neutrality, here’s a new problem around encrypting our data.

If you use WhatsApp or Snapchat and delete all your messages at regular intervals so as to ensure functioning of phone smooth, then you might have to revisit your practice as a new government policy may force you to save all messages for at least 90 days.

Deleting a Whatsapp message before 90 days will be illegal:

The Union Government has released a draft of National Encryption Policy Document (NEPD) online seeking methods of encryption of data and communications used by the government, businesses, and even the citizens. So an ‘Expert panel’ from the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) is set to have prepared the draft.

“All citizens (C), including personnel of Government / Business (G/B) performing non-official / personal functions, are required to store the plaintexts of the corresponding encrypted information for 90 days from the date of transaction and provide the verifiable Plain Text to Law and Enforcement Agencies as and when required as per the provision of the laws of the country”.

What it basically means is that you cannot delete your WhatsApp messages for 90 days and you have to share it with the authorities if the law demands it. If you don’t, then you can be booked.

Update 22 September: The government issued an addendum to clarify that “mass use encryption products, which are currently being used in web applications, social media sites, and social media applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter etc.” While that language is vague in itself, you can rest easy without needing to worry about having to store your WhatsApp messages for 90 days.

After outrage, govt withdraws controversial policy draft on data encryption that could bar consumers from deleting messages sent via encrypted services like WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, iMessage, Facebook Messenger, etc for 90 days.

This draft regulations will have to be implemented on all encrypted messaging services that also included Google Hangouts and Apple iMessages. Interestingly, only WhatsApp on Android supports the encrypted services that means other version of the instant messengers will not be controlled by the regulations.