Tech Giants Meta, Mozilla, Proton, Unite Against India’s Telecommunications Bill 2023: Encryption and Privacy Concerns Spark Global Alarm

After the recent tabling of the Telecommunications Bill, 2023 in the Parliament, there has been a whirlwind of discussions and concerns within the tech community, especially regarding its implications for over-the-top (OTT) services. Earlier, Meta’s policy head in India had indicated the potential inclusion of OTT services like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram under this legislation in the future. However, the latest version of the bill omits explicit references to OTTs.

Telecom Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

1. Bill permits temporary control over telecom services.
2. This control is justified in the name of national security.
3. It grants the authority to suspend services for reasons related to national security.
4. Govt is given the power to… https://t.co/DADQQdr8WY pic.twitter.com/kh8lOpDRP3

— BigBreakingWire (@BigBreakingWire) December 18, 2023

Shivnath Thukral, Director and Head of India Public Policy at Meta, highlighted the evolving nature of the bill in an internal email. While he acknowledged the removal of OTT mentions as a positive step, Thukral also pointed out lingering ambiguities. He emphasized that terms like “telecommunications services”, “telecommunications identifier”, and “messages” could be broadly interpreted, possibly encompassing OTT services indirectly.

However, the concerns haven’t been limited to internal discussions. On December 21, a collective voice from the global tech fraternity, including giants like Meta, Signal Foundation, Proton, and Mozilla, expressed significant apprehensions about the bill’s potential implications. The primary worry centers around the expansive definitions within the bill that might subject major messaging platforms to rigorous regulatory oversight, potentially compromising user privacy and encryption standards.

This unease culminated in a joint letter addressed to Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The letter, signed by numerous tech platforms, highlighted the bill’s overarching implications, cautioning against the enhanced surveillance it might usher in without robust independent checks. The tech organizations further pointed out that while some concerns from the previous draft remain unaddressed, the new bill introduces clauses that only magnify existing apprehensions.

In light of these developments, there’s a growing call from the tech sector for a reconsideration of the Telecommunications Bill 2023. The signatories advocate for comprehensive consultations to ensure that any legislation not only protects user rights but also fosters a conducive environment for a free and secure internet. As the bill awaits the President’s approval after passing the Rajya Sabha, its implications continue to resonate deeply within the tech ecosystem in India and beyond.