Pakistan

Surveillance purposes: Telcos barred from recording citizen calls

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Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained the telecom companies from recording phone calls and data for surveillance purposes, and said there should be clarity regarding the law authorizing the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to carry out surveillance activities.

The IT & Telecom Division had first suggested this to the federal government, and now the cabinet has approved the ban, local media reported on Thursday.

A recent cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underlined the need to maintain secrecy for all conversations and information about legitimate interceptions.

The cabinet issued policy instructions requiring the PTA to ensure that no unauthorized individuals acquire information concerning lawful interceptions. The telecom regulator will give new directions to local operators and service providers to carry out these directives.

The new policy directions will allow the PTA to manage interception requests by the law. These policy instructions received federal cabinet approval, as required by the Rules of Business, 1973, ensuring that all legitimate interception information is kept secret.

Staff Reporter

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