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After Meta, Signal Foundation, a non-profit that runs the encrypted messaging platform Signal, along with Proton, Mozilla and 87 other platforms have reportedly raised concerns regarding The Telecommunications Bill 2023. The letter reportedly cites threats to encryption and privacy stemming from certain provisions in the Telecom Bill 2023. The letter has urged the government to withdraw the bill.
The bill was passed in the Parliament recently and now awaits the President’s approval to become a law.The Telecommunications Bill 2023 will replace archaic laws, including the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933.
Although the reference to ‘OTT’ has been removed from the current version of the legislation that allows the government to intercept messages, set standards of encryption and take control of telecom networks, some experts have expressed worry about the broad definitions of ‘telecommunication services’ and ‘messages’ in the bill.
What the letter said
“The Bill would threaten this foundational element that enables people to communicate freely and privately, in an environment of ever-increasing surveillance and cyberattacks, and potentially even resulting in such secure services choosing to not operate in India, to the detriment of all,” these organisations said, in the letter.
“The new draft fails to modify provisions that were criticised in the earlier draft and introduces new ones that deepen the damage. We respectfully call on the government to withdraw the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, and initiate inclusive, sustained consultation on the new draft, to incorporate rights-respecting amendments to protect encryption, privacy and security, and unimpeded access to an open, secure, and free internet,” read the letter. Calling for the withdrawal of the bill, these organisations, through the letter, said without substantial amendments to the current version of the bill, “India will have failed to take the opportunity to showcase leadership among democracies in the digital age that the overhaul of the telecommunication framework presents”.
OTT not under ambit of Telecom Bill: Ashwini Vaishnaw
However, the telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that over-the-top (OTT) players or applications won’t be covered under the new telecom bill and will continue to be regulated by the Information Technology Act of 2000. The minister’s first official comments on the issue are likely to allay concerns raised by app makers and activists that the broad definition of ‘telecommunications’ can be interpreted to cover any internet-based communication.
The bill was passed in the Parliament recently and now awaits the President’s approval to become a law.The Telecommunications Bill 2023 will replace archaic laws, including the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933.
Although the reference to ‘OTT’ has been removed from the current version of the legislation that allows the government to intercept messages, set standards of encryption and take control of telecom networks, some experts have expressed worry about the broad definitions of ‘telecommunication services’ and ‘messages’ in the bill.
What the letter said
“The Bill would threaten this foundational element that enables people to communicate freely and privately, in an environment of ever-increasing surveillance and cyberattacks, and potentially even resulting in such secure services choosing to not operate in India, to the detriment of all,” these organisations said, in the letter.
“The new draft fails to modify provisions that were criticised in the earlier draft and introduces new ones that deepen the damage. We respectfully call on the government to withdraw the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, and initiate inclusive, sustained consultation on the new draft, to incorporate rights-respecting amendments to protect encryption, privacy and security, and unimpeded access to an open, secure, and free internet,” read the letter. Calling for the withdrawal of the bill, these organisations, through the letter, said without substantial amendments to the current version of the bill, “India will have failed to take the opportunity to showcase leadership among democracies in the digital age that the overhaul of the telecommunication framework presents”.
OTT not under ambit of Telecom Bill: Ashwini Vaishnaw
However, the telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that over-the-top (OTT) players or applications won’t be covered under the new telecom bill and will continue to be regulated by the Information Technology Act of 2000. The minister’s first official comments on the issue are likely to allay concerns raised by app makers and activists that the broad definition of ‘telecommunications’ can be interpreted to cover any internet-based communication.
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