DoT drops penalty clause; exempts demonstration, testing by central govt from new interception rule
Department of Telecom has dropped the penalty clause on telecom entities for violation of interception norms under the new rules notified recently. The Telecommunications (Procedures and Safeguards for Lawful Interception of Messages) Rules, 2024, notified on Wednesday, will not be applicable to demonstrations and testing of interception systems by the central government.
Under the new interception rules, the DoT has removed provisions related to fines and suspension of telecom licences for violation of licence conditions pertaining to maintenance of secrecy, confidentiality of information and unauthorised interception of communications.
The new rules, however, mandate telecom entities involved in the process of interception to ensure that «adequate and effective internal safeguards are implemented to prevent any unauthorised interception of messages» and «confidentiality and secrecy is maintained in the matter of interception of messages».
«The telecommunication entity shall be responsible for any action of its employees, including its vendors, that results in any unauthorised interception, or any violation of these rules,» the notification said.
The interception notification issued in 2007 under the Indian Telegraph Act mandated telecom entities involved in the process to take utmost care and precaution as interception of messages affects the «privacy of citizens».
The new notification exempts the demonstration and testing of interception systems under the new rule.
«Nothing in these rules shall apply to the
