Regulator Trai on Friday floated a session paper to discover a framework for internet-based calls and messaging apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Apple’s FaceTime and so on. and selectively ban their products and services in particular eventualities.
The session paper on “Regulatory Mechanism for Over-The-Top (OTT) Communication Services, and Selective Banning of OTT Services” follows a proposal of a parliamentary panel to the Department of Telecom (DoT) to “explore option of banning selective services such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram etc. instead of banning the internet as a whole” in an emergency state of affairs.
The panel has beneficial the DoT to inspect the advice of Trai and are available out with a coverage which is able to allow the selective banning of OTT products and services comparable to Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram all over unrest and disaster as those apps are susceptible for use via terrorists or anti National parts in specified areas.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has sought perspectives on “…need to put in place a regulatory framework for selective banning of OTT services under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 or any other laws, in force?”.
The regulator within the session paper has sought perspectives at the requirement of a framework for OTTs encompassing lawful interception, privateness and safety, buyer verification, pesky calls and messages, technical demanding situations in banning explicit carrier and so on.
Trai prior to now a number of session papers has put aside the call for for regulating internet-based calling and messaging apps.
The regulator has set August 4 because the closing date for feedback at the paper and August 18 for counter feedback.