Mysterious code in web browsers over Airtel's 3G network raises spying suspicions

Telecom major Airtel is faced  with allegations of spying on users by injecting mysterious lines of codes into web browsers used to visit websites over its 3G network.

The revelation comes after programmer Thejesh GN received a legal notice for exposing how Airtel inserted Javascript code and iframes into a user's browsing session.

After tracing down a mystery Javascript code during one of his own browsing sessions to a network managed by Bharti Airtel, Thejesh posted the findings on his twitter handle @thej and the GitHub repository.

Soon after, Thejesh received a cease and desist order asking him to take down the post, from  Israel-based, Flash Networks.

The post was taken down following a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) take-down notice by Flash Networks.

According to reports, the mystery code was being used by Airtel to track data consumed by users for which Airtel had partnered with Ericsson, which reportedly was using Flash Network's mobile solution to track user behaviour.

"This is a standard solution deployed by telcos globally to help their customers keep track of their data usage in terms of mega bytes used. It is therefore meant to improve customer experience and empower them to manage their usage. One of our network vendor partners has piloted this solution through a third party to help customers understand their data consumption in terms of volume of data used," Airtel said in a statement.

''One of our network vendor partners has piloted this solution through a third party to help customers understand their data consumption in terms of volume of data used. As a responsible corporate, we have the highest regard for customer privacy and we follow a policy of zero tolerance with regard to the confidentiality of customer data… We are also surprised at the Cease & Desist notice served by Flash Networks to Thejesh G. N., and categorically state that we have no relation, whatsoever, with the notice.''

Meanwhile, The Hindu newspaper reported that when contacted, an Airtel official, who asked not  to be quoted, said, that the company had stopped running the code as it found it was not helping its customers.

According to the newspaper, when contacted, advocate Ameet Mehta, managing partner of the law firm Solicis Lex, which issued cease and desist notice, said, it was not against anybody, and it wanted to safeguard the copyright of its client if there was any  infringement.