NTC (Nepal Telecom) has clarified that it has never engaged in call tapping at a press conference on September 6. The company spokesperson Rajesh Joshi stated that NTC doesn’t eavesdrop on customer’s calls and has no authority to do so.
NTC responded on this issue as rumors have swirled that the company might have been tapping calls under pressure from influential government figures.
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While telcos have no authority to call tappings, they can resort to it in sensitive cases. Regarding this, Joshi said a bill has passed through the National Assembly and remains under consideration in the lower house.
“When the bill comes into law, such an authority would lie in the hands of the surveillance agencies. However, the bill has not translated into law yet, NTC has not even procured the equipment for this. Further, NTC has no right to call tapping of any customer,” Joshi added.
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Call Tapping Bill
Call tapping is considered unethical and a breach of people’s private life. Article 28 of the Nepal Constitution 2017 has also declared the right to privacy as a fundamental right. In this, the controversial bill causes an instant stir in Nepal last year.
Last year, the government tabled a bill (Nepal Special Service Bill) that if passed, would allow the security agencies to call tappings without permission of a court. The bill has made it through the upper house and now remains to pass through the House of Representatives to become a law.
The bill has met with severe rebuke as call tapping without a court’s approval could lead to misuse and invasion into people’s privacy without their realization.
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What are your opinions on call tappings? Should the bill pass that allows peeking into calls without the public’s consent or the whole concern is overblown? Do share your position down in the comments section.
