Telecom Act 2023 Strengthens Protections For Citizen Privacy

The New Telecom Act 2023, which partially came into effect on 26th June, strengthens protections for citizen privacy while safeguarding telecom networks. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) today said that the Act replaces the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Indian Wireless Telegraph Act of 1933. 

It said the new Telecommunications Act lays down standards for the manufacturing, import and sale of telecom



equipment. It also lays down rules that safeguard telecom networks. It designates critical telecom infrastructure and mandates security upgrades and also regulates telecom service and equipment in the interest of public safety, public emergencies including disaster management, etc. The Act also maintains uniform provisions of possession and monitoring as in the previous Act, DoT mentioned.