DoT notifies cybersecurity norms; telcos need to share data on demand

Mumbai: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has notified new cybersecurity rules which empower the government to seek traffic data from service providers.

In addition to text message content, the government can seek any other traffic data for ensuring telecom cybersecurity, according to the rules framed under the new Telecom Act, notified Thursday.

The rules define traffic data as any info generated, transmitted, received or stored in telecom networks, including type, routing, duration or time of a communication.


ET reported last week that telecom executives and legal experts have raised concerns that the new cybersecurity rules give New Delhi sweeping access to potentially privacy-breaching consumer data while increasing compliance burden for service providers who could now be held liable for the misuse of telecom resources by their subscribers.