On Monday, the Centre introduced the Telecommunication Bill 2023 in the Lok Sabha, granting the government authority to suspend or prohibit the use of telecom equipment from specific countries or individuals for national security reasons. The Bill allows the government to notify standards and conformity measures for telecommunication equipment, services, security, cyber security, and encryption. In case of public emergencies, disasters, or public safety concerns, the government can take temporary possession of telecommunication services or networks and prioritize messages for response and recovery. The Bill also empowers the government to issue orders to intercept, detain, or suspend telecommunication services in the interest of national security, public order, or preventing offenses. Additionally, the government can take measures during war or for national security, including specifying trusted sources for procurement and suspending or prohibiting the use of specified telecommunication equipment and services from certain countries or individuals. The Bill was introduced amid disruptions in the Lok Sabha.
Key Points:
1. The Telecommunication Bill 2023 was presented in the Lok Sabha on Monday, empowering the government to suspend or prohibit the use of telecom equipment for national security reasons.
2. The Bill allows the government to notify standards and conformity assessment measures related to telecommunication equipment, identifiers, and networks, as well as services, manufacturing, import, distribution, sale, telecommunication security, cyber security, encryption, and data processing.
3. In the event of a public emergency or for public safety, the government can take temporary possession of telecommunication services or networks, as stated in the proposed legislation.
4. The Bill outlines the authority to direct the suspension, interception, or disclosure of messages for reasons such as sovereignty, defense, security, public order, and preventing incitement to offenses.
5. Specific measures include directing the suspension of telecommunication services, interception of messages, or detaining messages in intelligible format, subject to prescribed procedures and safeguards.
6. Press messages intended for publication in India by accredited correspondents are generally exempt from interception or detention, unless transmission is prohibited under specific circumstances.
7. The Bill also grants the government the power to take necessary measures in the interest of national security, friendly foreign relations, or during wartime, including issuing directions on the use of telecommunication equipment and services, setting standards, and taking over control or management.
8. The proposed legislation allows the government to suspend, remove, or prohibit the use of specified telecommunication equipment and services from countries or individuals as notified.
9. The Central government may take such measures for the use of trusted sources for procurement, suspension of specified equipment and services, and taking control or management of telecommunication services or networks.
10. The introduction of the Telecommunication Bill 2023 was met with uproar in the Lok Sabha, with the presentation occurring amid disruptions.
(With Agency Inputs)
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