Telecom Bill 2023: Why Facebook, Signal and 50 other OTT platforms have sent letter to communications minister

After Meta, Signal Foundation, a non-profit that runs the encrypted messaging platform Signal, along with Proton, Mozilla and 87 other platforms have reportedly raised concerns regarding The Telecommunications Bill 2023. The letter reportedly cites threats to encryption and privacy stemming from certain provisions in the Telecom Bill 2023. The letter has urged the government to withdraw the bill.

The bill was passed in the Parliament recently and now awaits the President’s approval to become a law. The Telecommunications Bill 2023 will replace archaic laws, including the Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933.