Rab to tap telephones?

The home ministry's persistence with such an agenda makes one sit up and take note of the consequences that are likely to follow. Earlier, there was an attempt at empowering intelligence agencies to listen in on telephone conversations which had to be abandoned in the face of teething opposition from the civil society. Thereafter, the home and telecommunications ministries' move to procure the listening devices for law enforcers was eschewed because it met with a modicum of opposition from within. A number of cabinet members didn't go along with the idea.

The revival of the agenda, therefore, is to be looked at with trepidation. As it is, some intelligence agencies have long been covertly using the interceptors. An amendment to the Telecommunications Act 2001 which prohibits tapping on telephone conversations as an invasion on the privacy of citizens could only open the floodgate for it.

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We are aware of the rising incidence and complexity of modern-day crimes and terrorist acts. This may necessitate keeping tab on trends, but that human intelligence is preferable to electronic tapping cannot be in question. The law, if amended, could lend itself to all sorts of abuse and violation of civil liberties. Given our partisan culture of distrust, the eavesdropping could lead to political victimisation. People may even be blackmailed.

This could, however, be allowed on an extremely limited scale but only under ethical supervision and duly authorised by a neutral body with reasons and justifications provided for it. After all, we are a democracy and certainly not looking to be a police state.