By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter
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Telecom service providers in the country should take all reasonable steps to ensure the confidentiality of customer communications, according to the new telecommunications consumer protection policy released recently by the Regulatory Authority at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR). |
The service providers shall not intercept, monitor or alter the content of a customer communication, except with the explicit consent of the customer or as permitted or required by applicable laws of Qatar.
The service providers will be responsible for any customer information and customer communications records which are under its control or in its custody or those of its agents.
They must ensure that customer information and communications records are protected by security and technical safeguards appropriate to their sensitivity.
They should not disclose customer information to any person without the customer’s consent, unless disclosure is lawfully required or permitted by the General Secretariat.
The new policy also suggests that service providers can retain and use all customer-specific information only for purposes specifically set out in the service provider’s terms, or in accordance with rules or orders made by the General Secretariat or in accordance with applicable laws.
They should ensure that customers’ information is accurate, complete and updated regularly for the purposes for which it is to be used.
The new policy also stipulates that service providers must not collect, use, retain or advertise any customer information unless the customer’s approval is obtained or as permitted by law.
For protecting the privacy of the customers, the new policy advocates that the service providers must ensure that all the information submitted is accurate, complete and valid for use.
Similarly, customers will have the right that any of their information is corrected or removed.
Representatives of the telecom service providers can enter a customer’s premises or property only with the written consent of the latter.
Article 104 of the by-law says that a service provider has the right to enter a customer’s premises or property for the purposes of installation, operation, maintenance and repair of all telecommunications facilities that are owned or provided by the service provider.
This right of entry is subject to the service provider giving the customer a notice and receiving the consent of the customer and the service provider dispatching identified and qualified personnel.
The written permission obtained from the customer must be shown upon request to occupants of the premises.
