Proposed US rule on software export has India worried

India is a large importer of 'intrusion software', which is used largely in defence and weaponry management to prevent cyber-attacks by foreign powers, from the US.

A proposed US government rule to restrict the export of the so-called "intrusion software" has got the Indian government worried.

India is a large importer of such software, which is used largely in defence and weaponry management to prevent cyber-attacks by foreign powers, from the US.

The proposed rule would add such software to a list of technologies that require export licences, a complex process in which the developer must first register the product with the government.

Developers could face felony charges if they sell restricted software without an export license to buyers in most nations, except a handful of US allies.

India's national security council (NSC), the department of electronics and the commerce department are currently discussing the fallout of this rule as it could impair India's cyber-security preparedness, particularly in defence, in the absence of a steady imports of regularly updated "intrusion software" from the US (HT has seen exchange of communication between NSC, Commerce Dept and Dept of Electronics on this concern)-

The US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) propose a licence requirement for the export, re-export or transfer (in-country) of these cyber security items to all destinations except Canada.