Saturday, August 24, 2013: India’s apprehensions regarding repeated monitoring of Internet traffic from the country has directed it to convey its concerns regarding this issue to the US. In order to counteract the problem, India is making an effort to improve its capacity for protecting data and information flows. The Rajya Sabha has been informed about this.
During Question Hour, Kapil Sibal, Minister for Communications and Information Technologgy stated that the government has took “note of disclosures by foreign media reports in June, 2013 about extensive electronic surveillance programmes deployed by the US agencies,” Times of India reported. “It would be a matter of concern for government if intrusive data capture has been deployed against Indian citizens or government infrastructure. Government has clearly conveyed these concerns to the US government,” added Sibal.
Sibal emphasised on the fact that violation of any Indian law pertaining to the privacy of information of ordinary Indian citizens through surveillance programmes was “unacceptable.” But, he added that US agencies are involved in tracing origin and destination of data and never attempted to get access to the content that needs a court approval.
With a view to build its capability for protection of data and information flows, India is setting up better cyber and telephony infrastructure and is also developing new cyber and telecom security practices. The government is closely working with international forums to promote the creation of better international Internet governance norms in the ongoing discussions.
According to The Times of India, “Government is promoting Indian players in the IT field to develop and offer internet services by having their servers located in India, in order to protect the interests and secrecy of communication of India citizens,” Sibal said. “Government is committed to protection of citizen’s right as enshrined in the Constitution of India irrespective of the media used for communication,” he added.
Moreover, India is actively participating in the discussions by United Nations Group of Government Experts on developments in the field of information and telecommunications with respect to international security.
