Huge call data records sought, allege telcos

Industry players have raised concerns over such practice in a communication to the Telecom Secretary, the sources said.

They claimed the DoT unit of Delhi demanded call data records (CDRs) of entire state for February 2, 3 and 4, 2020 and separately for specific routes in Delhi with residences of Ministers, Members of Parliament, Judge, important offices etc following which industry players gave representation before Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash to raise concern on such practice.

“Telecom industry players have written to the telecom secretary that CDRs sought for specific routes and areas may lead to allegations of surveillance, especially in the state like Delhi having numerous VVIP zones having offices and residences of ministers, MPs, judges etc,” a source aware of the communication said. An email query sent to the Department of Telecom in this regard elicited no reply.

The source said the DoT has already issued detailed instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for providing CDRs to law enforcement agencies in August 2016 and April 2019. The DoT including its field units under the SOP must ascertain the subscriber’s identity, examine the justification for CDR demand, among others..