Communication Data Submitted to Investigative Agencies Down 10.8% in Second Half of Last Year... Increase in Communication Restriction Measures

In the second half of last year, the number of telecommunications data and communication fact verification data submitted to investigative agencies decreased, while the number of cooperation cases for communication restriction measures increased.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the status of telecommunications data and communication fact verification data provision and cooperation on communication restriction measures for the second half of 2022, compiled from 87 telecommunications service providers.

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

The number of telecommunications data cases provided to the prosecution, police, National Intelligence Service (NIS), etc., in the second half of last year decreased by 267,761 cases (2,484,320 → 2,216,559 cases, -10.8%) compared to the same period the previous year, based on phone numbers. By agency, the prosecution decreased by 12,537 cases (758,283 → 745,746 cases), the police by 235,684 cases (1,634,107 → 1,398,423 cases), the NIS by 9,460 cases (16,514 → 7,054 cases), the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) by 6,236 cases (6,330 → 94 cases), and other agencies by 3,844 cases (69,086 → 65,242 cases).

'Communication fact verification data' includes facts of communication such as the other party's phone number, call date and time, call duration, as well as internet log records, connection location data (IP address), and transmission base station location tracking data, excluding the content of the call. Investigative agencies requiring this data must obtain court approval according to the requirements and procedures stipulated by the Protection of Communications Secrets Act to acquire it from telecommunications service providers.

The number of communication fact verification data cases provided to the prosecution, police, NIS, etc., in the second half of last year decreased by 7,474 cases (205,172 → 197,698 cases, -3.6%) compared to the same period the previous year, based on phone numbers. By agency, the prosecution increased by 14,372 cases (50,705 → 65,077 cases), other agencies increased by 535 cases (2,619 → 3,154 cases), the police decreased by 22,258 cases (151,306 → 129,048 cases), the NIS decreased by 4 cases (342 → 338 cases), and the CIO decreased by 119 cases (200 → 81 cases).

'Communication restriction measures,' targeting the content of communications such as voice call content and emails, can only be conducted by investigative agencies after obtaining court approval according to the requirements and procedures stipulated by the Protection of Communications Secrets Act. These measures are limited to serious crimes such as treason and crimes related to explosives, and are carried out under stricter restrictions than the provision of communication fact verification data. The number of communication restriction measures conducted by the NIS in the second half of last year increased by 45 cases (2,477 → 2,522 cases, 1.8%) compared to the same period the previous year, based on phone numbers.

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