India's New Telecom Bill Raises Privacy Concerns

The legislation grants the government extensive control over telecom networks, sparking fears among digital rights groups and Big Tech companies.

India's parliament has passed the Telecommunications Bill 2023, replacing century-old rules and modernizing the country's connectivity services.
The new bill grants the government the power to control telecom networks and monitor traffic data in the interest of national security.
The legislation has raised privacy concerns among digital rights groups and Big Tech companies due to its potential to infringe on the privacy rights of citizens.
The bill allows spectrum allocation for satellite-based services without auctioning, favoring companies like Starlink and Amazon's Kuiper.
Despite assurances from the government, there are concerns that the broad definitions within the law could extend to over-the-top (OTT) messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal in the future.