(a) whether the Government has set up a Central Monitoring System (CMS) to intercept
telecommunications;
(b) if so, the details and salient features thereof along with the time frame fixed for
the same;
(c) whether the telecom sector has prepared any telecom security project for the said
purpose and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any oversight mechanism has been set up to prevent breach of privacy of the
citizens; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
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ANSWER
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THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI MILIND DEORA)
(a) & (b) Madam, Government has decided to set up the Centralized Monitoring System for
Lawful Interception & Monitoring of telecommunications. The envisaged salient features
of CMS are as follows:
(i) Direct Electronic Provisioning of target number by a Government agency without any
manual intervention from Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) on a secured network, thus enhancing
the secrecy level and quick provisioning of target.
(ii) Central and regional database which will help Central and State level Law Enforcement
Agencies in Interception and Monitoring.
(iii) Analysis of Call Data Records (CDR) to help in establishing linkage between anti-social
/anti-national elements.
(iv) Research and Development (R&D) in related fields for continuous up-gradation of the CMS.
(c) A project prepared with an estimated cost of Rs. 400 Crores for CMS has been approved
by the Government.
(d) & (e) To take care of the privacy of citizens, lawful interception and monitoring is
governed by the section 5(2) of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 read with rule 419A of Indian
Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2007 wherein oversight mechanism exists in form of review
committee under chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary at Central Government level and
Chief Secretary of the State at the State Government level. The same mechanism is applicable
for the interception under the CMS Project also. Additionally, there is an inbuilt mechanism
of check and balance as Security Agencies/Law Enforcement Agencies cannot provision the target
and the provisioning agency cannot see the content.
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