India Blocks Access to Popular Developer Platform Supabase

Supabase, a well-known developer database platform, is encountering disruptions in India, one of its crucial markets, as TechCrunch has reported the platform has been blocked. The blocking order was issued by New Delhi on February 24 under Section 69A of India’s Information Technology Act, resulting in inconsistent access across networks. The reason for this move by the Indian government was not publicly disclosed, and it’s unclear if it relates to security, copyright, or another issue. Supabase acknowledged these access issues in social media posts starting Wednesday. While initial reports of blocked access came from Reliance Industries’ JioFiber network, users have since experienced problems across various internet providers. Supabase tagged India’s IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging intervention, but then removed the message, later confirming ongoing blocking issues for many users. An Indian founder reported a halt in new user sign-ups over the past two to three days, while a technology consultant said they struggled to access Supabase for development and production. Though workarounds like changing DNS settings or using a VPN were suggested, they were deemed impractical for most users. At publication, TechCrunch verified that supabase.co was inaccessible on ACT Fibernet, JioFiber, and Airtel in New Delhi, but some users in Bengaluru still had access, indicating uneven implementation of restrictions. Supabase’s main website remained accessible, but its developer infrastructure did not. India, Supabase’s fourth-largest traffic source, accounts for about 9% of global visits, with significant traffic increases noted both globally and in India. This incident raises broader concerns about India’s website blocking practices. “This is a simple fact that has grave consequences for developers and others,” commented Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia Pacific policy director at Access Now. India has faced criticism for blocking websites in the past, such as briefly restricting access to platforms like GitHub in 2014 during a security investigation. Supabase, founded by CEO Paul Copplestone and CTO Ant Wilson in 2020, is an open-source alternative to Firebase and has raised significant funding, reaching a $5 billion valuation. The Ministry of Electronics and IT in India and telecom providers did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Copplestone and Wilson.