Only TRAI data security recommendations linked to telecom will be considered by DoT: Aruna Sundararajan

TRAI has released its recommendations on privacy, security and ownership of data in the telecom sector, which are applicable to browsers, apps, operating systems and handset makers. The recommendations have been welcomed by the telecom department. Talking on the same with Zee Business, Aruna Sundararajan, Telecom Secretary, said the telecom department will consider the recommendations related to the telecom sector, while the recommendations related to other players of the digital ecosystem will be seen by the Justice BN Srikrishna committee. Edited excerpts from the interview:

Q: Will the department of telecom (DOT) adopt the recommendations of the TRAI? The question becomes important at this junction because the Justice (retd) BN Srikrishna Committee is moving forward to frame a law. What will be the next step of DOT on those recommendations?
A: There are two types of recommendations - one which pertains to the telecom sector, where the primary responsibility is on the telecom department. So those recommendations will be considered within the department. And the general recommendations that TRAI has given because it has spoken about the entire digital ecosystem, that will be looked into by the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee. I think this is a very good set of inputs, very useful and timely inputs that have come in, so the justice Srikrishna committee will look at those. 

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Q: So you will be implementing the recommendations of TRAI?
A: I said those will be looked at since it has only come yesterday, we didn't have the time to look into those recommendations but we will certainly be doing so.  But the broad principle, the govt has already said that as far as data is concerned, it is the user who is the owner of the data. So some broad principles have already been laid down by the Supreme Court, the government has already endorsed those broad principles and based on those principals the Srikrishna Committee and DoT will take steps.