New Interception Rules

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced the “Telecommunications (Procedures and Safeguards for Lawful Interception of Messages) Rules, 2024”. These new rules aim to balance the need for national security and law enforcement with the protection of individual privacy and the confidentiality of communications.

One of the most notable changes in the new rules is the removal of the penalty clause for telecom entities that violate interception norms. Previously, telecom operators faced fines and the potential suspension of their licenses for breaches related to the unauthorized interception of communications.