Telecommunication Data Provided to Investigative Agencies Increased by 25.3% in the First Half of the Year

Ministry of Science and ICT Announces Status of Telecommunications Data and Call Detail Records Provision for First Half of 2022

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] Although the telecommunications data provided to investigative agencies in the first half of this year decreased by 17.2%, the number of communication fact verification data and communication restriction measures increased by 25.3% and 5.2%, respectively.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 23rd the status of telecommunications data and communication fact verification data provision, as well as cooperation on communication restriction measures for the first half of 2022, compiled from 78 telecommunications service providers (50 primary carriers and 28 value-added service providers).

"Telecommunications data" refers to basic personal information of telecommunications service users such as user name, resident registration number, address, subscription and cancellation dates, phone number, and ID. Investigative agencies request this data via official documents under the Telecommunications Business Act for prompt criminal investigations, such as verifying victims of voice phishing or kidnapping, and obtain it from telecommunications service providers.

The number of telecommunications data cases provided to the prosecution, police, and National Intelligence Service in the first half of this year was 2,120,006 based on phone numbers, a decrease of 439,433 cases (17.2%) compared to the same period last year.

"Communication fact verification data" includes facts of communication such as the other party's phone number, call date and time, and call duration, rather than the content of the call, as well as internet log records, connection location data (IP Address), and transmission base station location tracking data.

Investigative agencies requiring this data for investigations must obtain court approval according to the requirements and procedures stipulated by the Protection of Communications Secrets Act before acquiring it from telecommunications service providers.

The number of communication fact verification data cases provided to the prosecution, police, and National Intelligence Service in the first half of this year was 302,015 based on phone numbers, an increase of 61,032 cases (25.3%) compared to the same period last year.

For "communication restriction measures," which target the content of communications such as voice call contents and emails, investigative agencies must also obtain court approval according to the requirements and procedures set by the Protection of Communications Secrets Act before implementation. Communication restriction measures are limited to serious crimes such as treason and offenses related to explosives under the Protection of Communications Secrets Act, and thus are conducted under stricter restrictions than the provision of communication fact verification data.

The number of communication restriction measures conducted by the National Intelligence Service and police in the first half of this year was 4,897 based on phone numbers, an increase of 241 cases (5.2%) compared to the same period last year.

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