Syllabus: GS-II
Subject: Polity
Topic: Bills/Acts/Rules
Issue: Telecommunications Act,2023
Telecommunications Act, 2023:
Highlights:
- Replaces: The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933.
- Authorisation: From central Government to establish, operate, or provide telecommunications networks and services.
(From license-permit regime to calculated authorization)
- Spectrum Allocation: Through auction, except for specified entities and purposes like defence.
- The Universal Service Obligation Fund was created to improve connectivity in remote areas, modified into “Digital Bharat Nidhi“.
- Right of way: Provides a mechanism to exercise the right of way for laying telecom infrastructure in public as well as private property.
Issues/Concerns:
- Surveillance: Allows for interception, disclosure, and suspension of telecommunication/services in case of a public emergency or interest or safety.
- Privacy of users: Biometric authentication of their users as a measure to curb fraud.
- Phone tapping in the name of national security/interest.
Case law(for Mains):
| People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India(1996) case● The Supreme Court declared that phone tapping is a violation of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). However this is restricted by Article 19(2). |
