Vodafone accused of secretly sharing data with British spy agency
Note: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India is a body that
offers a single window clearance for proposals on Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) in India that are not allowed access through the
automatic route.
Notably, P Chidambaram was the Minister of Finance from 22 May 2004 to 30 November 2008
Pranab Mukherjee was the Minister of Finance from 24 January 2009 to 26 June 2012
P Chidambaram who was Minister of Home Affairs from 30 November 2008 to 31 July 2012 joined the office of the Minister of Finance on 31 July 2012 and currently hold the office.
FIPB comprises of Secretaries drawn from different
ministries with Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, MoF in the
chair. Dr. Arvind Mayaram is currently Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
FIPB is an inter-ministerial body that examines and discusses proposals for
foreign investments in the country for sectors with caps, sources and
instruments that require approval under the extant FDI Policy (prescribed vide Circular 1 of 2012)
on a regular basis. The Minister of Finance, considers the
recommendations of the FIPB on proposals for foreign investment up to 
1200 crore. Proposals involving foreign investment of more than 1200 crore require the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
FIPB is mandated to play an important role in the administration and implementation of the Government’s FDI policy. It has a strong record of actively encouraging the flow of FDI into the country through speedy and transparent processing of applications, and providing on-line clarification. In case of ambiguity or a conflict of interpretation, the FIPB has always stepped in with an investor-friendly approach.
1200 crore. Proposals involving foreign investment of more than 1200 crore require the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). FIPB is mandated to play an important role in the administration and implementation of the Government’s FDI policy. It has a strong record of actively encouraging the flow of FDI into the country through speedy and transparent processing of applications, and providing on-line clarification. In case of ambiguity or a conflict of interpretation, the FIPB has always stepped in with an investor-friendly approach.
Who is who is FIPB:
Shri P.K. Mishra
Joint Secretary (Investment &DoC),
Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs
North Block
New Delhi - 110001
Tel: 2309 2420
Email: prabhat.mishra[at]nic[dot]in
Joint Secretary (Investment &DoC),
Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs
North Block
New Delhi - 110001
Tel: 2309 2420
Email: prabhat.mishra[at]nic[dot]in
Mr. Anant Kumar
Under Secretary
Under Secretary
Tel: 2309 4979
Fax: 2309 4084
Intercom: 5002
Room No: 63
North Block
New Delhi-110001
Email: anantkumar[at]nic[dot]in
Fax: 2309 4084
Intercom: 5002
Room No: 63
North Block
New Delhi-110001
Email: anantkumar[at]nic[dot]in
Ms. Reetu Jain
Director (FIPB & IC)
Tel: 2309 4547
Room No: 48-D
North Block
New Delhi-110001
Email: jain.reetu[at]gmail[dot]com
Director (FIPB & IC)
Tel: 2309 4547
Room No: 48-D
North Block
New Delhi-110001
Email: jain.reetu[at]gmail[dot]com
Mr. Pankaj Saurabh (FC-I)
Section Officer
Tel: 2309 5104
Intercom: 5104
Room No:B-14
North Block
New Delhi-110001
Email: pankaj.saurabh[at]nic[dot]in
Intercom: 5104
Room No:B-14
North Block
New Delhi-110001
Email: pankaj.saurabh[at]nic[dot]in
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MediaVigil
Vodafone accused of secretly sharing data with British agency
Major telecom player Vodafone has been accused by the Union Home
Ministry of secretly sharing subscriber data with a British intelligence
and security organisation, a charge denied by the company.
According to documents of the Internal Security Division of the Home
Ministry, Vodafone is alleged to have given the U.K.-based Government
Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) “secret unlimited access to their
network of under sea cables, which carry much of world’s phone calls and
Internet traffic.’’
“GCHQ’s mass tapping operations has been built up over the past five
years by attaching intercept probes to the transatlantic cables where
they land on British shores,” the Home Ministry documents claimed.
“Intercept partners are paid for logistical assistance,” it said.
Though the note had asked the Department of Economic Affairs not to
proceed with realignment of Vodafone, which is involved in a
Rs.11,200-crore tax dispute over purchase of Hutch’s stake in 2007, the
Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) went ahead and gave clearance
for increasing the foreign equity in Vodafone India Limited.
The Union Home Ministry had alleged that Vodafone and a U.S.-based
company Verizon “are learnt to be secretly collaborating with U.K.’s
GCHQ and passing on details of their customer phone calls, email
messages and other communication and are intercept partners.’’
When asked for comments, Vodafone said in its reaction that “no such
concern has been raised with us by the Indian government. The Government
of India’s approval of our FDI application states that it was cleared
by the FIPB and the CCEA after all necessary due diligence.’’
The telecom operator also denied that it was disclosing “any customer
data in any jurisdiction unless — like any other operator — it is
legally required to do so”.
Keywords: Vodafone India, cyber snooping, phone espionage, GCHQ phone tapping, Home Ministry
http://www.thehindu.com/business/vodafone-accused-of-secretly-sharing-data-with-british-agency/article5770734.ece?homepage=true
http://www.thehindu.com/business/vodafone-accused-of-secretly-sharing-data-with-british-agency/article5770734.ece?homepage=true
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