Telecom Ministry to Disconnect 2.17 Crore Mobile Connections Amid Rising Cyber Slavery Concerns

 What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Cyber Slavery

Why in News?

The Union Ministry of Telecommunications has informed a high-level inter-ministerial panel that it will disconnect 2.17 crore mobile connections obtained through forged documents or used in cybercrime, and block 2.26 lakh mobile handsets.

Cyber Slavery

• Background
  • Cyber scams and fraud are increasingly common in India, often involving spam calls where scammers pose as government officials to steal sensitive information like Aadhaar and ATM details. 
  • To avoid detection, these scammers now operate from foreign countries but use Indian mobile numbers to make their calls seem legitimate. 
  • This shift has given rise to a dangerous trend called 'cyber slavery,' where individuals are lured abroad under false job promises and forced to participate in cybercrime operations.
• About 
  • Cyber slavery refers to a modern form of exploitation where individuals are lured, often through deceptive job offers, and forced to engage in cybercrimes. 
  • Victims are usually promised lucrative jobs, such as data entry or tech roles, in foreign countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. 
  • Upon arrival, their passports and identification documents are confiscated, trapping them in a form of digital servitude.
  • These individuals are coerced into performing illegal online activities, such as cyber fraud, phishing, and scamming. 
  • They may be forced to create fake social media profiles or lure people into fraudulent investment schemes, like fake cryptocurrency platforms. 
  • Victims often work under harsh conditions, with no freedom of movement, and face threats or violence if they attempt to escape.
• Cause of worry
  • Cyber slavery is part of a broader pattern of human trafficking and is increasingly prevalent due to the rise of digital crimes. 
  • It highlights the intersection of human rights violations and online criminal networks, requiring international cooperation to combat.
• Indians trapped as cyber slaves
  • A report revealed that over 5,000 Indians were believed to be ensnared in Cambodia, allegedly held against their will and compelled to commit cyber fraud. 
  • Government estimates suggest that Indians had been defrauded of at least Rs 500 crore in the six months leading up to March of this year.
  • Analysis of data by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has observed an increase in the number of cybercrime incidents targeting India.
  • About 45% of them originate from the Southeast Asia region, mainly Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos PDR. 
• Inter-ministerial panel formed to address the issue
  • This incident prompted the Indian government to establish an inter-ministerial panel to address the issue and pinpoint the loopholes. 
  • The panel identified deficiencies in the banking, immigration, and telecom sectors.
  • It identified three loopholes that enable cyber scams originating from Southeast Asian countries. These are:
    • Involvement of the senior bank managers of two nationalised banks to open mule accounts; 
      • It was found that maximum accounts were allegedly opened with the connivance of senior bank managers/ staffers in several branches of State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank.
    • around 30,000 unreturned passengers travelling on visitor visa to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam from January 2022-May 2024; and 
    • misuse of bulk SIM cards.
• Steps taken by Indian government
  • The Union Ministry of Telecommunications has announced to: 
    • disconnect approximately 2.17 crore mobile connections obtained through forged documents or used in cybercrime and 
    • block 2.26 lakh mobile handsets. 
  • The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has also directed telecom companies to block all incoming international spoofed calls that display Indian mobile numbers.
    • This has resulted in a 35% drop in such calls, with full implementation expected by December 31 of this year.
  • Additionally, the DoT is working to identify roaming phone numbers involved in scams in Southeast Asia. 
    • The DoT reported that over 6 lakh Indian SIM cards were roaming in Southeast Asia between April and June 2023. 
    • Over 1.4 lakh point of sale (PoS) agents across India were identified as being involved in selling SIM cards used in scam operations in countries like Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.
  • Telecom service providers (TSPs) are required to submit weekly data on Indian mobile numbers utilizing roaming services in countries like Hong Kong, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, and Myanmar.

Q.1. What is cyber slavery?

Cyber slavery involves luring individuals with false job promises abroad, where they are forced to engage in illegal online activities. Victims often have their documents confiscated and work under harsh conditions, coerced into cybercrime operations.

Q.2. What actions is the Indian government taking against cyber slavery?

The government will disconnect 2.17 crore mobile connections linked to cybercrime, block 2.26 lakh handsets, and direct telecom companies to block spoofed international calls to combat cyber slavery and related scams.

Source: Amid reports of ‘cyber slavery’, telecom ministry to disconnect 2.17 crore mobile connections | India TV | Business Standard