Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) says usage expectations critical for ideal encryption policy

Encryption is a fundamental and necessary tool to safeguard digital communication infrastructure but the interests of Internet users should be foremost in framing any policy, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) said in New Delhi on Tuesday. "Trust, convenience and confidence of users are the keywords to designing an ideal encryption policy that will help in getting more people online with safe and secured internet platforms," said IAMAI president Subho Ray.The association, which has published a discussion paper on encryption policy, suggests that a broad-based public consultation with all stakeholders including users groups should precede making of an encryption policy. According to the paper, the foundation of a user centric encryption policy consists of freedom of encryption, strong encryption base standard, no plaintext storage and mandatory legal monitoring or no backdoor entry.An essential element in the suggestion that support for strong encryption is critical to counter cyber security issues around the globe, but also pitches for the importance of freedom of encryption for the users, organisations and business entities.IANS