Carey
  July 5, 2023 - Santiago, Chile

New Law on prosecution of organized crime establishes new obligations and penalties for telecom companies and internet service providers
  by Carey

On June 15, 2023, Law No. 21,577 (hereinafter, the "New Law") was enacted, which strengthens the prosecution of organized crime offenses, establishes special techniques for their investigation, and reinforces the confiscation of profits. The New Law modernizes the current criminal offenses related to organized crime and, at the same time, incorporates and improves the specialized techniques of investigation.

Several of these modifications have a direct impact on the operations and liability of telecommunications companies and Internet service providers, especially, in wiretapping, interceptions, and accessing call logs, personal data, and other general information related to communications.

Firstly, Section 222 of the Criminal Procedure Code (“CPC”) allows the interception and recording of telephone communications but now also of any other form of communication, which the previous regulation did not make explicit. At the same time, it replaces the expression "telephone and communications" with the phrase "concessionaires of public telecommunications services and Internet service providers", to expand the entities that could be subject to these measures.

Secondly, one of the most innovative aspects of the New Law is the inclusion of a new Section 218 ter in the CPC establishing new obligations for communication service providers and sanctions to those who do not comply:

Thirdly, the law also incorporates a new Section 225 bis, which allows remote access to informatic devices. The Prosecutor's Office can request the judge to authorize the use of computer programs that allow remote access and seizure of the contents of a device, computer, or informatic system, without the knowledge of its users.

Fourthly, regarding the collaboration of telecommunications service providers and other services, Section 225 quinquies is included, which imposes a duty to collaborate with the police officers in charge of executing the measure. They are also required to provide the necessary assistance when the seizure is being executed. Those required to collaborate in this type of proceedings must maintain confidentiality unless they are summoned to testify.




Read full article at: https://www.carey.cl/en/new-law-on-prosecution-of-organized-crime-establishes-new-obligations-and-penalties-for-telecom-companies-and-internet-service-providers/