April 12: The government is getting tough to prevent illegal phone tapping by individuals or companies. Telecom secretary, Mr R. Chandrashekhar has said that the government will not allow individuals or companies to have phone tapping equipment without authorisation.
Last year the telecom department had asked companies with call monitoring networks, including detective agencies and PSUs, to register with it the equipment they use for call interceptions.
Mr Chandrashekhar said that 80 per cent of the people or companies which possess such equipment in the country have informed the government about it. He said that soon the department in consultation with the home ministry will decide whether to confiscate the phone tapping equipment from such private parties. “In the past it was not illegal (to import equipment which could be used for phone tapping), now it has become illegal and therefore they have been asked to declare it. The whole idea is that people will not be allowed to have the phone tapping equipment without proper permission. There is no question of anyone having this equipment without authorisation,” Mr Chandrashekhar told this newspaper. He said that the home ministry will decide what action to take against companies or individuals which have failed to register with the government.
As per government notice if a company or individual fails to register with the government they will attract severe punishment of up to three years in prison and a fine. “We have some records of who all have imported equipment ... we will follow up with those,” said the telecom secretary. Detective agencies will not be allowed to have phone tapping equipment. “They will not be allowed to have such equipment and can’t do so unauthorised,” said Mr Chandrashekhar.