Telecom firms barred from sharing information

Cabinet approves policy directives covering operations and installations of companies

ISLAMABAD:

The government has barred telecom companies from sharing information with any individual, entity or organisation about lawful interception between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the operators of telecommunication systems.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the Information Technology and Telecommunication Division had approached the government to maintain confidentiality for the provision of information regarding operations, functions and installations related to lawful interception.

The cabinet approved the policy directives in that regard.

Sources said that the Ministry of Telecommunication had tabled a summary before a cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which was informed that in exercise of powers conferred under Sections 8(2)(c) and 8(2A) read with Section 54(1) of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996, policy directives were required to be issued by the federal government to the PTA.

The ministry said that the policy directives should comprise all communication and any information regarding operations, functions and installations related to the lawful interception between the PTA and the operators of telecommunication systems and telecommunication service providers or with any other individual, organisation, or entity must, at all times, remain confidential.

“PTA shall ensure that no information regarding lawful interception is shared with any unauthorised person,” it said. The Information Technology and Telecommunication Division stated that the PTA should issue necessary instructions to the operators of telecommunication systems and telecommunication service providers and any other person necessary to implement the policy directives.

Cabinet members had voiced concern over the policy directives to keep the information confidential.

Responding to the concerns raised by some of the members, it was explained that the directives would make it clear that the cabinet had taken cognizance of the interceptions and sought to ensure that it was strictly in accordance with the law, as provided in the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996.

It was stated that through the policy directives, a legal mechanism was being introduced to regulate the provisions that were already available under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996.

It was added that the policy directives from the federal government would authorise the PTA (services and operators) to deal with and regulate such requests in accordance with the law.

As required under Rule 16(1)(1) of the Rules of Business, 1973, approval of the federal cabinet was solicited for the issuance of the above policy directives to the PTA.

The cabinet considered the summary titled “Policy directive under Section 8(2)(C) and Section 8(2A) read with Section 54(1) of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organisation) Act, 1996 to maintain confidentiality for provision of information regarding operations, functions and installations related to lawful interception” dated May 21, 2024, submitted by the Information Technology and Telecommunication Division and approved the proposal.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2024.

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