SC closes PIL seeking ban on use of Zoom video-calling app

New Delhi, February 14: The Supreme Court closed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on the usage of the 'Zoom' video conferencing application in the country. 

Closing the PIL, Supreme Court stated that, “This does not survive. Even courts uses zoom... MEITY has said nothing wrong with Zoom. And why only target us, not WebEx etc?"   

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A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and MM Sundresh closed the petition as the Court does not found anything wrong in the use of the application. 

Notably, the petition was filed by petitioner Harsh Chugh in 2020, seeking a ban on the usage of the video conferencing application zoom by Indian citizens until the formulation of appropriate legislation, claiming the app breaches privacy.

The petitioner also stated that the application poses threat to the privacy of the individuals using it and also breaches cyber security.

The PIL stated that Zoom is not safe app and does not have end-to-end encryptions and the application also violates the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009.

Chugh further stated that he is being concerned about cases of hacking and cyber breaches, which are being incessantly reported.

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The plea said that there is a need for legislation to be put in place in order to effectuate a standard regulation to safeguard the rights of citizens as has been brought to light by various leaders across the world.