President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the controversial Telecommunications Bill, marking a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding the legislation. The bill, which was tabled in Parliament on December 18, garnered approval from Lok Sabha on December 20 and Rajya Sabha on December 21.
The official approval was granted on Saturday, December 23, raising questions about the timeline for the enactment of the new law. The President’s assent has turned the Bill into law; however, the specific date of notification remains unclear. According to the official gazette order, the Act will be notified separately by the Centre on a different date.
“It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act,” stated the gazette. This implies that the government might set distinct dates for the implementation of various provisions within the law.
The new legislation replaces three outdated laws—the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885; the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933; and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950. The primary objective of the revamped legislation is to align the country’s regulatory framework with technological advancements and eliminate century-old rules.
However, the Telecommunications Bill has faced criticism, particularly for its vague and expansive definition of the term ‘telecommunications.’ Internet activists expressed concerns, suggesting that the law might extend its reach to cover internet services, potentially leading to a ‘surveillance’ regime.
A group of 61 global digital companies and organizations, including Mozilla, Proton, and Signal, voiced their apprehensions by writing to IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging the revocation of the proposed legislation. They went as far as describing the Bill as a threat to Indian democracy and the internet.
One major point of contention surrounded over-the-top (OTT) communication apps, which were initially brought under government oversight in a previous draft of the Bill. In response to mounting concerns, IT minister Vaishnaw clarified that messaging apps would be exempted from the new law, continuing to be regulated by the Information Technology Act, 2000.
