Govt to set up internet scanning agency called NCCC

The government is setting up an internet scanning agency which will seek to monitor all web traffic passing through internet service providers in the country. The scanning agency to be called National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC), will issue 'actionable alerts' to government departments in cases of perceived security threats.

The move comes as the government has been unable to prevent many terror attacks, in the absence of a credible internet scanning system.

According to the minutes of ameeting held on February 3, 2012, at the National Security Council Secretariat under the PMO, the National Cyber Coordination Centre will 'scan whole cyber traffic flowing at the point of entry and exit at India's international internet gateways'. The web scanning centre will provide 'actionable alerts for proactive actions' to be taken by government departments.

All government departments will now talk to the Internet Service Providers such as Bharti Airtel, RCOM, BSNL, MTNL and Tata Communications through NCCC for real time information and data on threats.

According to sources, government is planning to invest about .`800 crore in the setup. "The coordination centre will be the first layer of threat monitoring in the country. It would always be in virtual contact with the control room of the Internet Service Providers," the Deputy National Security Advisor Vijay Latha Reddy said, as per minutes of the meeting.

The government is collating manpower requirements for the centre currently. "At present, the monitoring of web traffic is done by Centre for Development of Telematics ( C-DoT) which has installed its equipments at the premises of ISPs and gateways," informs Rajesh Chharia, president at Association of Internet Service Providers.

All tweets, messages, emails, status updates and even email drafts will now pass through the new scanning centre. The centre may probe further into any email or social media account if it finds a perceived threat.

India's National Security Council Secretariat (NCSC) has asked various departments to assess their needs for officials, who will coordinate with the scanning agency. The National Security Council handles the political, nuclear, energy and strategic security concerns of the country.

As per the minutes seen by ET, Defence Research and Development Organisation officials were of the view that there is no perfect system.

Rehman Malik: No talks with Taliban

The government would not hold talks with Pakistani Taliban, which is responsible for a string of terror attacks, until the terrorists surrender, said interior minister Rehman Malik. Malik on Sunday denied media reports about negotiations between the government and Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP), and said: "I talked to stakeholders in Bajaur who confirm that there are no talks with them."

Differences in the ranks of Pakistani Taliban appeared on Sunday as two senior commanders denied a latest claim by their senior leader Maulvi Faqir Muhammad that the militants are in talks with the Pakistani government, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

The minister said if Maulvi Faqir, deputy chief of TTP, wants to hold talks with the government, he should come down from hills, lay down arms and surrender himself, then there would be chances to hold negotiations.

"If TTP surrenders, definitely the government would consider talks," he was quoted as saying.

On reports that some Taliban have been released, he said there is no truth in it and Maulvi Faqir is spreading disinformation in this regard.

Malik said: "We know the capacity of the Taliban, and appreciate Pakistan's armed forces which fought bravely against the terrorists in Swat and Malakand and overpowered them within record time."

Maulvi Faqir called mediapersons Saturday and confirmed the talks with Islamabad, reported Xinhua. He also claimed that the talks are progressing well and Pakistan has freed 145 Taliban militants as a goodwill gesture and the Taliban in return have promised a ceasefire.

The Taliban want a halt to the ongoing military operation in the tribal areas, release of all rebels, withdrawal of Pakistani security forces from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and compensation to those tribesmen who were impacted during the military operations.

They also want that military operations against them should not be launched at the behest of the US