India Orders VPN Companies to Collect and Hand Over User Data

[Chip]

@phoenix10386 Actually no, these are foreign entities with no base in India. So the Govt has no control over them..which makes it all the more puzzling. OTOH, banks in India are required to provide any information the Govt may seek from them including card transactions, bank/UPI/Netbanking transactions etc.

 

[havoc]

Best case is to use a VPN while purchasing a VPN subscription and transferring your money to a virtual card provider (based outside India offcourse) and then using that virtual card paying for the VPN (it won't ask for PAN if it detects we are from USA or any other country). I tried this method and it works.

 

[Chip]

@havoc which virtual card did you use?

 

[phoenix10386]

@phoenix10386 Actually no, these are foreign entities with no base in India.

I assumed the VPNs with India Offices would only ask for PAN information.. otherwise there is no point for them to have that information from users. Any which way you slice it, waters are getting murkier and murkier day after day.

 

[Chip]

Alright, so Nord has dropped it's VPN servers in India a few minutes back. I was connected since morning and now India doesn't even show up on the country list. Well done GoI!

 

[Navjot Singh]

Wait. I thought Nord only removed physical servers here. But looks like they also have shut down their service? The payment page doesn't show localised pricing or the ability to select India as a country for payment.

Can someone confirm if they are still selling it to Indians?

 

[Reference3307]

@havoc I also would like to know which virtual card you used?

 

[havoc]

They are selling it to Indians but totally outside from India. Now we don't have to pay 18% GST while purchasing the VPN. This means 100% they are off India. That's pretty great in my Opinion. CERT & others will definitely learn a lesson. I want more & more backlash to the government. Not everything can be "Censored". Educate your policewalas & other service people in the country & raise awareness. Not just create a logging policy.

 

[Chip]

You can change to US....but it'll be treated like any other international transaction. Of course not sure if the transaction will go through with an Indian credit card.

 

[havoc]

Yes, about the virtual card. I didn't personally created it. My friend from Nepal provided me card details and said this is banned in India so you can't directly use it. I tried and the transaction failed. He then purchased Surfshark subscription from there without paying any taxes. I was like thanks man now take the subscription we'll both enjoy it. I paid him the money & now we both are secure + haven't paid any taxes.