Seeking huge call data records is an unusual request which has been routed to telecom operators through the local units of the Dept of Telecoms (DoT).
New Delhi| Some units of the telecom department are seeking huge call data records of people in some circles on a routine basis which is alleged to be in deviation from the standard operating procedure laid down by the government, according to sources.
Industry players have raised concerns over such practices in a communication to the Telecom Secretary, the sources said.
They claimed the DoT unit of Delhi demanded call data records (CDRs) of entire state for February 2, 3 and 4, 2020
and separately for specific routes in Delhi with residences of Ministers, Members of Parliament, judges, important offices, etc., following which industry players gave representation before Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash to raise concern on such practice.
“Telecom industry players have written to the telecom secretary that CDRs sought for specific routes and areas may lead to allegations of surveillance, especially in the state like Delhi having numerous VVIP zones having offices and residences of ministers, MPs, judges, etc,” a source aware of the communication told PTI.
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An email query sent to the Department of Telecom in this regard elicited no reply.
According to the source, who did not wish to be named, said that the DoT has already issued detailed instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for providing CDRs to law enforcement agencies in August 2016 and April 2019.
The DoT, including its field units, under the SOP, is required to ascertain the identity of the subscriber, examine the justification carefully for CDR demand, detail purpose for seeking CDRs and not using such CDRs received for any other purpose, define the officers authorised to seek and approve such a request. However, various licence service area units of the DoT are not adhering to the set process and seek voluminous CDR details from telecom operators on a regular basis in contravention to the SOP.
(Inputs from Press Trust India)
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