After ExpressVPN, Surfshark became the second major virtual private network (VPN) provider to shut down its servers in India in reply to the country’s new cybersecurity directive which requires VPNs to stockpile user data for five years. The company made a statement that VPN providers leaving India “isn’t right for its growing IT sector”.

Moreover, The company made it clear in Tuesday’s blog post, “In answer to the new Indian data regulation laws, Surfshark is shutting down its servers in India. The new laws require VPN providers to record and keep customers’ logs for 180 days as well as collect and keep excessive customer data for five years”. On the other hand, “Surfshark proudly manages under a strict ‘no logs policy, so such new requirements go against the core spirit of the company”.

Before Surfshark, ExpressVPN removed its server from India following the cybersecurity directive released by the CERT-In. This may not be gone to end here, as at least one more VPN provider in NordVPN too is considering removing its India servers.

Surfshark said its physical servers in India will be closed before the new law comes into effect on June 27. After the rules kick in, the company will launch “virtual” Indian servers, which will be physically located in Singapore and London. It clarifies that “Users in India who don’t use Indian servers will not feel any differences – they will still be able to connect to whichever server outside the country they please”. It is based out of the Netherlands and, as of April 2022, had over 3,200 servers in more than 65 countries.