Telcos warned on unauthorised phone tapping

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) on Thursday warned telecom companies and private detective agencies against unauthorised monitoring of communication networks.

"It has come to the notice that some persons, companies including PSUs, private vendors and private detective agencies are establishing, maintaining or operating unauthorised communications network including wireless network for unauthorised monitoring, intercepting and surveillance of communications," DoT said in a statement.

"Such type of acts violate the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933," it added.

Under the law, no equipment or sub-system can be used for unauthorized communication network, monitoring, intercepting and surveillance of communication.

The government has asked people and companies who imported, or possessed monitoring equipments to inform the Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) cells of DoT within 60 days.

Errant individuals can be jailed for up to three years and fined, the statement added.oogle