DoT wants technical solution for interception, monitoring of Blackberry services

New Delhi, Aug.26 (ANI): The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed all telecom service providers to ensure that a technical solution for interception and monitoring of Blackberry services in readable format is made available to the Law Enforcing Agencies by August 31, 2010.

Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Sachin Pilot in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha informed this and said: "In case no solution is provided, those services which can not be intercepted and monitored in readable format may be banned by the government."

While replying to another question, Mr. Pilot informed that, inadequate compliance to Security Conditions by Telecom Service Providers have come to the notice of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) from time to time.

"In many cases instructions are issued for compliance of security conditions or penalties are imposed for non compliance. Government has also asked Service Providers to provide technical solutions for interception and monitoring of certain services having complex encryption provided through Blackberry devices in readable format to Law Enforcement Agencies. In case no solution is provided these services may be banned by the Government," he said.

He further informed that specific security conditions are prescribed in the license issued to the Telecom Service Providers. These include conditions regarding subscriber verification, Lawful Interception and Monitoring, power of Government to restrict service in certain areas, employment of foreign personnel, encryption of communication, cooperation with Security Agencies and DoT/TERM (Telecom Enforcement, Resource and onitoring) Cells etc. (ANI)