Govt may get access to foreign firms' networks

To address security concerns, India is planning to make it mandatory for foreign service providers to share information related to the technologies in use.

This will make foreign firms give complete access to their networks or set up a local server in India to allow security agencies to monitor the content.

The department of information and technology (DIT) is considering an amendment in the Information Technology Act (IT Act) to facilitate this move, according to an internal note prepared by the department of telecommunications (DoT).

"The amendment will bind foreign service providers to provide the required information, besides ensuring such an obligation is built into the technology development and expansion of the firms in a manner that each new service or new technical breakthrough does not require case to case coverage," DoT said.

DIT is currently in the process of preparing a draft for the said amendment.

This development assumes significance after DoT raised concerns over Blackberry devices, Skype and Google services.

In the note, DoT said it would ask the companies to either ensure that data going through their networks be made available to security agencies in a readable format or face a ban in India.

It has also raised concerns over data services being offered by Tata Teleservices and Reliance Communications.

"DoT will call the representatives of Research In Motion (manufacturer of Blackberry devices) and Skype and ask them to ensure that the content going through the telecom service providers is in readable format. They have to ensure that this is implemented within 15 days, failing which services that do not allow lawful interception on a real-time basis would be blocked/banned," the note said.

These decisions were taken at a recent meeting between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Intelligence Bureau, the DoT and the National Technical Research Organisation, a scientific organisation under the National Security Advisor. Two years ago, similar concerns were raised against Blackberry services but then DoT had said all issues had been resolved.

The telecom department has also prepared a note for the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs seeking approval to set up a centre for communication security research and monitoring.