Act places conditions on telecom operators

[rpm]

http://www.mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=3061

 

[dominic]

We are confident that we are well placed to deal with all regulatory issues confronting us. We actively plan and analyse multiple regulatory scenarios to ensure we are prepared for changes in regulation."

some context: the Act was actually signed by the president on 31 December 2002 (3.5 years ago) after being in the drafting process for (about, i think) at least 3 years during which it was substantially amended and with a wide-ranging public participation process

the commencement of the act was only proclaimed towards the end of last year with a further delay in implementation to allow telecommunications service providers (TSPs) and ISPs a chance to prepare

the lengthy delay between signature and commencement was due to the need to negotiate with TSPs and ISPs on the implications of implementation; during this time numerous conferences were held and there were vists from all sorts of overseas agencies to assist; the Ministry of Justice (note - this does not fall under the Ministry of Communications altho they are involved) in the interim issued out draft directives for TSPs and ISPs wih some detail on how to roll out the necessary hardware and software to comply...there was a substantial public participation rocess before these were finalised late last year

there seem to be many folks on the forum who question the need for the act (in particular this whole business of registration) and there are some huge practical issues with it - but it is classic post 9/11 security legislation as found in my other countries - PATRIOT Act in the US and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) in the UK to name but two

is it an unconstitutional restriction on privacy? - probably not; in very simple terms privacy has to be balanced against the need for security but this is a whole other story (which can probably wait for the lonely gunman to come back....)