Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday called for greater engagement of security agencies with telecom service and equipment providers to keep a strict vigil on the misuse of technology. The PM?s remarks made it clear that though the government had access to mechanisms like legal interception and monitoring, certain grey areas needed to be addressed so that criminals or terrorists do not misuse technology.
The Prime Minister?s remarks assume added significance in the context of the recent attacks in Mumbai, wherein the terrorists had procured global SIM cards, used satellite phones and set up a communications network outside the country.
Inaugurating the India Telecom 2008 conference, jointly organised by Ficci and DoT, the PM said, ?Modern technology is a very powerful instrument, but it can be a threat if it falls into the hands of anti-social elements and terrorists. Hence, it is very important that there should be effective cooperation and coordination between the agencies whose responsibility is to safeguard the security of the country and producers?all actors in the (technology) industry.?
The Prime Minister also raised concerns about Internet telephony, which he said is used by people to hide their identity. DoT is currently in the process of formulating a policy on Internet telephony, following regulator Trai?s recommendation that such calls should be allowed to terminate on landline and mobile phones.
The gaps in the current set-up were best highlighted in the aftermath of the September serial blasts in Delhi when law enforcement agencies complained that BSNL and MTNL were dragging their feet on providing interception facilities and there were inordinate delays in getting call detail records and IP address resolutions. DoT was forced to write a stern letter to the two state-owned telecos asking them to cooperate expeditiously with the agencies.
BlackBerry?s push mail was also under the home ministry?s scanner earlier this year, as the service did not allow for legal interception. DoT, after meetings with local service providers and BlackBerry owner RIM, sought to find a solution to the problem, but nothing much has been achieved so far.