In an initiative that tightens control over telecommunications, Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega has proposed a new law to his controlled parliament that requires telephone operators to provide detailed information on their users to the Sandinista regime.
The measure, which is being analyzed by the Parliament's Infrastructure Committee, with an almost absolute Sandinista majority, includes the delivery of statistical and georeferenced data to the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Posts (Telcor), which has Nahima Janett Díaz Flores as director. She is the daughter of the head of the Nicaraguan National Police, Francisco Díaz, a strong ally of Ortega.
The legislative proposal, which would replace the current General Telecommunications and Postal Law, aims to “update regulations to correspond to technological advances”. However, opponents exiled and persecuted by the Sandinista regime warn that it would give permission for the Ortega dictatorship to develop a comprehensive supervision system, which would directly affect both operators and users.
Furthermore, the proposed law also imposes, under Telcor's supervision, the import of technological equipment and requires telecommunications operators to provide the geolocation of their users to the regime. In the event of inspections, operators must cooperate, including with the assistance of the police force, if necessary. Sanctions for infractions, according to the new law, could range from 0.5% to 2.5% of operators' gross annual revenues.
The legislation also obliges companies to make their facilities and services available to the regime free of charge in situations of “national or regional emergency”. The Ortega regime argues that the new Converged Telecommunications Law will promote “high-speed, quality and accessibility connectivity for Nicaraguans.”
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