The OTT messaging apps’ messages won’t need to be decrypted because of the draught telecom bill. However, the law had a clause that allowed for their interception: Minister of IT while addressing the media and explain the draft bill said.
The proposed telecom rules are part of a broad overhaul of the Indian government’s digital regulatory structure. Every citizen has the right to know who is calling them so they can choose whether or not to answer, regardless of the platform. We’re going to take user KYC seriously, Vaishnaw added.
According to communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the new telecom bill could go into effect over the next six to ten months.
India’s New Draft Telecom Bill to take user KYC Seriously
“Basis consultation process, we will create (a) final draft. That draft will then go through committee processes of Parliament. Then it has to go (to) Parliament. I see a timeline of 6-10 months but we are not in a hurry,” said Vaishnaw.
He made the comments during a media interaction on the draft telecom bill unveiled earlier this month. The Department of Telecommunications has invited feedback on the draft Bill and has set the deadline of October 20 for receiving comments.
Addressing the media, Vaishnaw said that the draft bill will provide an enabling framework for the protection of users and to fight cyber frauds.
“It is important that we look at this Telecom Bill as part of a larger comprehensive digital framework that we are trying to deliberate. We should not look at the Bill as an ultimate solution as it won’t be. This is just the first step towards a larger solution to this problem of fraud, we want to break those institutions and cycles,” he added.
At the press conference, the Minister also made an important statement, stating that the draught telecom bill would not require the decryption of messages sent over over-the-top messaging services like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal. But he said that the proposed bill included a clause for their interception.
“There is no provision to force decryption (of OTT based messaging services) … However, there is a very clear process on interception with checks and balances based on Supreme Court’s guidelines. That system will continue to be followed,” noted the Communications Minister.
