Tech blackout for Punjab police

In a world where every other person owns a mobile phone and does not leave home without it, untangling knots of criminal cases has become a lot easier for the law enforcement agencies. The cellular companies store records, including call detail records (CDRs), tower information and specialized location information, as business records which work as puzzle solvers for the investigators. For instance, the CDRs act as a digital record of one’s phone's activity, capturing information like call timestamps, durations, originating and receiving numbers, and even the specific cell tower and sector a phone connected to during the call. This gives police an insight into who the suspect was in contact with before, during and after the crime, exposing further accomplices. Besides, CDRs also paint a picture of the suspect's daily life patterns helping the investigators identify or disprove any suspicious deviation from the routine.

Additionally, the location data received from cellular companies provides valuable information, such as confirming that the suspect’s mobile device was in the vicinity of the crime scene, determining the location of the suspect’s phone prior to, during and after the crime occurred and confirming or disproving an alibi. In cases where the police don't have an apparent suspect, cell tower dumps act as a starting point for them but require court order due to strong privacy concerns. The tower dump reveals every phone connected to that tower during a particular time frame. This helps the police identify phones that were in the vicinity of the crime scene and identify potential accomplices or suspect devices.

However, to the Punjab police’s dismay, cellular companies have stopped providing CDRs, mobile phone locations, IMEI history, gateway data, and geo-fencing data in the wake of the Islamabad High Court’s recent order. Considering that 70% of police investigations rely on technology, this decision raises serious concerns. The non-provision of data by cellular companies is likely to severely impact the ability of police to conduct thorough investigations and track down suspects in cases of kidnapping for ransom, tracing mobile phones in robberies, attempted murders, disappearances and terrorism. It will also lead to a rise in unsolved crimes, which can deter investment and economic growth and erode public trust in the police.

Though the police could explore alternative methods for gathering evidence, such as using social media and other digital platforms, these methods may not be as effective as having direct access to cellular company data. The police may also need to rely on manual investigations, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.

In the prevailing law & order situation, non-provision of mobile phone data will not only  severely impact law enforcement agencies capabilities but will give open field to  anti-state elements to further their agenda. After the court verdict cellular companies are reluctant to cooperate with investigating agencies due to fear of contempt of court proceedings.  If this issue is not resolved, it could have long-term consequences for the effectiveness of law enforcement in Punjab.

The writer is a freelance columnist and frequently writes on issues of national security