New Delhi:
So far phone tapping by the government was legal for specific phone numbers. However there's technology today, which allows for sweeping tapping. This means a machine can listen in on any cellphone call in its range. This has been illegal so far, but has been misused by various government agencies.
The Centre has now finalised new rules, which will legalise sweeping phone tapping. That means governments will be able to listen to large number of phone conversations without specifying phone numbers. But unlike in the past, this will be closely monitored.
From now on, governments will have to take permission for the area they want to tap. The equipment must have GPS, which will verify the location they claim to be in. All conversations not related to illegal activities have to be deleted. A record of all phone numbers tapped must be maintained.
And there's a clampdown on the private sector. It is illegal for them to do any sort of phone taps, but this machine has been widely used. So, now all machines owned by the private sector have to be surrendered, failing which there's a penalty.
These changes are a result of the angry protest the government faced in Parliament with reports that sweep phone taps were used to listen in on top political leaders. Now, the government intends to bring in the changes in the next Parliament session.