Telecom Bill 2023 Will Allow Centre To Take Control Of Services Over National Security

The Telecommunications Bill 2023 – which will allow the Centre to take over, manage or suspend any telecommunication network for “national security” purposes – was on Monday tabled in the Lok Sabha.

Introduced by Union Ministry for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, the bill seeks to replace the 138-year-old IndianIndianIndian Telegraph Act, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933 and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act 1950.

The Union Cabinet had cleared the bill in August.

It states that “on the occurrence of any public emergency or in the interest of public safety”, any message can be “intercepted or detained” by the Central or state governments.