Govt to ask Google, Skype to give data access

All companies providing communication services in the country, including Google and Skype, will have to provide access solutions to let security agencies monitor their data. The notices were being sent to all firms providing communication services in India to allow lawful access to security agencies when required and they would have to set up a server in India, Home Secretary G K Pillai said.

The remarks came two days after the makers of BlackBerry, Research in Motion, averted a possible ban on its services in India by agreeing to set up a server in India. The government had extended the August 31 deadline for RIM by 60 days, giving a much awaited relief to 1.2 million users of BlackBerry in the country.

Home Minister P Chidambaram also said RIM had begun giving access to its data. The government was firm on its demand for unconditional and real-time lawful access of the encrypted data and there would be no let up on the security concerns of the country, he said.

He also made it clear that security of the nation would not be compromised in operation of BlackBerry, Google and Skype.