Bengaluru, April 29 -- In a development that could have wide ramifications for internet privacy and regulation, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the Union government to initiate proceedings to block the encrypted email service Proton Mail in India, citing its misuse and the national security threat it allegedly poses. Justice M Nagaprasanna issued the directive while hearing a plea by M Moser Design Associates India Pvt Ltd, a private company that found itself at the centre of a cyber abuse scandal. The firm had approached the court after a series of vulgar and defamatory emails about one of its employees were sent via Proton Mail to colleagues and clients. The anonymous nature of the platform, the petitioner argued, had stymie...