The Union Ministry has put up a draft of National Encryption Policy Document (NEPD) online seeking to prescribe the methods of encryption of data and communications used by the government, businesses, and even the citizens of the Country.
The document has been formulated by an group of Professionals set up under the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) which comes under the Union Ministry Of Communications and Information Technology.The draft policy has been formulated under Section 84 A of the Information Technology Act (2000). Once finalized, rules for encryption of electronic information and communication will be introduced under the policy.
The draft document is open to public comment until October 16. The draft document says that the policy’s mission is to “provide confidentiality of information in cyber world for individuals, protection of sensitive or important content.All information shall be stored by the concerned B/C (business/citizen) entirely for 90 days from the date of transaction / invoice and made available to Law Enforcement Agencies as and when demanded in line with the provisions of the laws of the Country.”
“The government can work with the professionals towards this goal. The draft document does mention positive measures such as promotion of cryptography research and development in the country,” says Chima.