India Moves to Tighten VPN Oversight Amid Rising Content Blocks and Privacy Concerns

India is preparing tougher rules for VPN providers, possibly requiring local offices, compliance officers and government-facing representatives. The push follows limited compliance with CERT-In’s 2022 mandate to retain user data for five years and a rise in blocking orders, reportedly exceeding 24,000 in 2025. Officials say VPNs enable workarounds, while privacy advocates warn of surveillance risks.