Russian communications ministry drafting measures to counter telephone terrorism using IP telephony - Nikiforov
MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) - The Russian Ministry of Communications and Mass media is drawing up measures to counter telephone terrorism using IP telephone services, Minister Nikolai Nikiforov said.
"These will be certain restrictions relating to those challenges that are passing through the chains of the IP telephony system, substitute a user's real number: this would be an improvement on this sphere," Nikiforov said, responding to a question from Interfax on the sidelines of the State Duma's all-Russian youth forum on Monday.
"It is possible to do this via legislation, there may also be a fair number of ministerial orders," he said. "We are working through these aspects," Nikiforov said.
"Although this is something that needs be done, I would not like there to be overly high expectations with respect to these measures, this will not help resolve the system of telephone terrorism, because the issue is not telephones, it is people," the minister said.
"Had it been possible to identify telephone terrorists beforehand and block them, then the whole world would have done so long ago. But it is impossible," Nikiforov said.
"These are just calls from one telephone number or another that are links in a chain almost across the entire globe," he said.
"It is impossible to do, it is impossible to pre-determine via which chain a telephone terrorist is calling," Nikiforov said.
The minister had no comment when asked whether the ministry has received a bomb threat call.