EU Rule Envisages Storage Of Telecom Call & Internet Use Data For A Longer Duration

Harit Mehta AHMEDABAD 17 JULY

Publication:ET Bangalore; Date:Jul 18, 2005; Section:Pg 12 - Tech; Page Number:12

INDIAN outsourcing firms, especially call centres, may be impacted by a move by the UK towards passing the controversial European Union-wide rules envisaging storage of telecom call and internet use data for a longer duration, almost three years, in the wake of the recent London terrorist attacks.

With the UK pressing on the EU to tighten internal security measures — which could mandate telephone and internet traffic monitoring — records for phone and internet usage would be maintained for longer periods as against the existing period of six months.

This, many believe, may have an impact on Indian firms, especially those associated with outsourcing for companies in the UK and other European countries. After the recent terror strikes, an emergency meeting of European justice ministers was called in Brussels, where it was agreed in principle to adopt the data retention legislation. The legislation, Britain has said, is vital to fight the terrorist threat. However, they stopped short of agreeing to specific measures. Back home, the industry is divided over the impact of the proposed regulations, as and when they take place.

Industry sources say companies will have to shell out extra bucks for increasing data storage capacity. Nasscom president Kiran Karnik, said he hoped that the impact will be negligible. ‘‘I do not see any impact on Indian outsourcing firms. If at all there is any, it will be negligible,’‘ he told ET.

According to him, the companies will have to undergo a cumbersome exercise to preserve the data. On the other hand, several players argue that it’s only logical that changes in rules will affect the outsourcing firms.

Mr Dinesh Dubey of Smruti Compubits, a BPO firm, which is into facility management, says that changes in regulations may affect several call centres.

Mr Ashish Tandon, CEO of Indusface, a Vadodarabased IT security firm, which has a presence in Bangalore and Canada, said: ‘‘Yes, it is only logical that if storage requirements grow, it will affect the Indian outsourcing firms.’‘