WhatsApp, Gmail banned from use for transmission of official documents in J-K

The Jammu and Kashmir government has banned the use of third-party tools like WhatsApp and Gmail for transmission of sensitive official documents, saying it can lead to data breaches and leaks.These platforms are not specifically designed to handle classified or sensitive information, and their security protocols may not meet the stringent standards required for official communications, an order passed by the General Administration Department on Saturday. "Consequently, the use of such tools could result in severe security breaches that jeopardize the integrity of governmental operations," the order reads.The GAD issued guidelines for the officials to follow while handling official communication. According to NISPG, the 'Top Secret' and 'Secret' information shall be shared only in a closed network with leased line connectivity where a SAG-grade encryption mechanism is deployed.However, 'Confidential' and 'Restricted' information can be shared on internet through networks that have deployed commercial AES 256-bit encryption," it added.The directive said the use of government email facility or government instant messaging platforms is strongly recommended for the communication of 'Confidential' and 'Restricted' information. "However, Top secret/Secret information shall be shared over the e-Office system only with leased line closed network and SAG grade encryption mechanism," it said.It said there was a blanket ban on sharing any top secret or secret information through video conferencing.