GT&T “does not have the capability to intercept emails”

Oct 01, 2014 News

“Government agencies and private businesses especially need to recognize that most breaches in the security of their private networks originate from within.”

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) sought to make it clear yesterday that it is in no way involved in the unlawful disclosure of the content of customers’ voice conversations, short messages (SMS) and/or electronic mails to law enforcement authorities or other third parties.
This declaration comes in wake of the publication of emails between Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Khurshid Sattaur, former president Bharrat Jagdeo, and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, which exposed a plot to shut down the Kaieteur News.
The company said that it can say without fear of contradiction that any such perception of its involvement in such activities would have no basis in fact. It stressed that customers can rest assured that their personally identifiable information and the contents of their communications are treated as strictly confidential, as is required under the Telecommunications Act, the Interception of Communications Act of 2008, and of the GT&T License. It also invited the public to read GT&T’s Privacy Statement which appears on its website.
Having made that point, GT&T also stated that in the interest of full disclosure, it must also be said that while the law prohibits the interception of communications in the course of transmission and its disclosure, like any other public telecommunications provider, GT&T has an obligation to assist law enforcement.
However, the law, it said, provides adequate checks-and-balances to guard against abuse. The telephone company said that such lawful interception can only be authorized (under Section 4 of the Interception of Communications Act) by a Judge who is satisfied that such action is necessary in the interest of national security or for the prevention or detection of certain categories of offences.
It explained that an interception warrant must, among other things, specify the person whose communications is to be intercepted, the identity of the agency authorized to intercept the communications, the persons to whom the intercepted communications may be disclosed, and the arrangements to be made to ensure the confidentiality of the intercepted communications.
Although the Act was assented to, the company said that it has not been asked to acquire equipment which facilitates the interception of IP traffic, including electronic mail. For the avoidance of doubt, “we say here for the records that GT&T does not have the capability to intercept electronic mails.”
GT&T said that it takes very seriously its obligation to treat its customers’ personal identifiable information and the content of their communications as confidential.
“Our customers too must share responsibility for the security of their information. GT&T provides Internet access, but individual network owners are responsible for their own security. Organizations such as Governmental agencies and private businesses, especially, need to recognize that most breaches in the security of their private networks originate from within, for example, employee misuse of access privileges, and general lax IT security policies,” the company concluded.

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GT&T “does not have the capability to intercept emails”

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