Govt for independent audit of NIG
To prevent misuse of critical data on citizens flowing in the National Intelligence Grid set up for counter-terrorism efforts, the government has decided to have an independent audit of the NIG by the Cabinet
committee on security headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Official sources said that a log will be maintained to track the footprints of all users of the 21 databases connected in the NIG project which will be at the disposal of at least 11 intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
“The Natrgrid will have independent audit by the Cabinet committee on security. To enter the data, one needs to have an authorisation code,” government sources said.
Issues of privacy and security concerns were raised by various stakeholders prompting the government to incorporate safeguards such as an independant audit to ensure transparency. The NIG databases include bank, PAN card and credit card details, immigration records, travel details of all citizens in the country.
Meanwhile, the Centre is also planning amendments to the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 to impose restrictions on private firms including detective agencies using passive interception equipment.
The aim is to regulate passive interception of phone conversations by putting in place a system “to record, keep and transmit the recorded interceptions” which are terror related and delete the irrelevant portions, government sources said. Under the new rules, private firms already using such equipment will have to surrender the same within a period or will face heavy fines in case they fail to do so, the sources said.
The import of such equipment which helps in off-air recording of mobile conversations could be severely regulated and could also be licensed, they said.The amendments to the Telegraph Act are being worked on and could be introduced in the next Parliament session, an official said.
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