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Combating counterfeit and stolen telecommunication/ICT devices and tampered software

Background

ITU-T SG11 is a lead Study Group on combating counterfeiting and tampering of ICT devices, as well as on combating the use of stolen ICT devices. Particularly, Question 15 of ITU-T Study Group 11 (Q15/11) "Combating counterfeit and stolen telecommunication/ICT devices and their software" is addressing the growing problem of counterfeited telecommunication/ICT products and devices, which is adversely affecting all stakeholders in the ICT field (vendors, governments, operators and consumers).

Cooperation among ITU T study groups, between ITU-T and ITU-D as well as with external bodies outside the ITU (in particular with SDOs), will be required to gather a complete information in this regard. Q15/11 welcomes contributions to progress standardization in these fields.

For any further information, contact ITU-T SG11 Secretariat at tsbsg11@itu.int.
The ongoing work is highlighted in the SG11 Work programme accordingly, see here.

Deliverables

ITU-T Q.Suppl.76 "Common approaches and interfaces for data exchange between the central equipment identity register and the equipment identity register" (10-2023)
Technical Report QSTR-MCM-UC "Use Cases on the combat of Multimedia Content Misappropriation" (10-2023)
ITU-T Q.Suppl.75 "Use Cases on the Combat of Counterfeit ICT and Stolen Mobile Devices" (12-2021)
ITU-T Q Suppl.73 “Guidelines for Permissive versus Restrictive System Implementations to address counterfeit, stolen and illegal mobile devices” (03-2021)
ITU-T Q Suppl.74 “Roadmap for the Q.5050-series - Combat of Counterfeit ICT and Stolen Mobile Devices” (03-2021)
Recommendation ITU-T Q.5053 "Mobile device access list audit interface" (01-2021, SG11)
Recommendation ITU-T Q.5052 "Addressing mobile devices with duplicate unique identifier" (09-2020, SG11)
Recommendation ITU-T Y.4808 "Digital entity architecture framework to combat counterfeiting in Internet of things" (08-2020, SG20)
Recommendation ITU-T Q.5051 “Framework for Combating the use of Stolen Mobile ICT Devices” (03-2020, SG11)
Recommendation ITU-T Q.5050 “Framework for solution to combat counterfeit ICT devices” (03-2019, SG11)
Technical Report ITU-T QTR-RLB-IMEI: Reliability of IMEI (07-2020, SG11)
Recommendation ITU-T X.1127 Functional security requirements and architecture for mobile phone anti-theft measures (09-2017, SG17)
Survey report on Counterfeit ICT Devices in Africa (02-2017, SG11)
Technical Report on Counterfeit ICT equipment (12-2015, SG11)
Questionnaire on Reliability of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) (Outcomes, SG11)

Workshops and Events

ITU “Ask the Expert” session dedicated to “Guardians of Authenticity: Battling Counterfeiting” (virtual, 28 March 2024)
Series of webinars/workshops on combating counterfeiting and stolen ICT devices.
- Episode 1: Existing challenges and solutions on combating counterfeiting of ICT devices, Virtual, 15 February 2023
- Episode 2: Global approaches on combating counterfeiting of telecommunication/ICT devices and mobile device theftGeneva, 13 October 2023
Joint ITU/MWF Webinar "Combating Counterfeit and Irregular Mobile Devices: How to address the Problem"
Virtual, 31 May 2021
WSIS Forum 2021. Session 406— Combating counterfeit telecommunication/ICT devices and software
Virtual, 7 May 2021
Third ITU-T Study Group 11 Regional Workshop for Africa on “Counterfeit ICT Devices, Conformance and Interoperability Testing Challenges in Africa”
Tunis, Tunisia, 30 September 2019
ITU Workshop on Global approaches on combating counterfeiting and stolen ICT devices
Geneva, Switzerland, 23 July 2018
Second ITU-T Study Group 11 Regional Workshop for Africa on “Counterfeit ICT Devices, Conformance and Interoperability Testing Challenges in Africa”
Tunis, Tunisia, 23 April 2018
Counterfeit ICT Devices, Conformance and Interoperability Testing Challenges in Africa
Cairo, Egypt, 5 April 2017
Combating counterfeit using conformance and interoperability solutions
Geneva, 28 June 2016
Building consumer trust
Budapest, 13 October 2015
Demo on a solution to combat Counterfeiting of ICT products based on the Digital Object Architecture
Geneva, 22 April 2015
Combating counterfeit and substandard ICT devices
Geneva, 17-18 November 2014

Relevant Resolutions

Resolution 96 of WTSA (Hammamet, 2016): ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector studies for combating counterfeit telecommunication/information and communication technology devices
Resolution 97 of WTSA (Rev.Geneva, 2022): Combating mobile telecommunication device theft
Resolution 188 of PP (Rev. Bucharest, 2022): Combating counterfeit and tampered telecommunication/information and communication technology devices

ITU Newslog stories

ITU INTERVIEWS: Glenn Jones

Interview with Glenn Jones,Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP), ICC and Hewlett-Packard Global Anti-Counterfeit Program.

ITU INTERVIEWS: Dr Robert E. Kahn

Interview with Dr Robert E. Kahn, Chairman, CEO and President, Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI).

ITU INTERVIEWS: Jean Bergevin

Interview with Jean Bergevin, Head of Fight Against Counterfeiting and Piracy Unit, Intellectual Property Directorate, European Commission (EC): "EU Commission's Project (s) to Reduce the Incentives for IP Infringing Products to Infiltrate Supply Lines: EU Action Plan on the Enforcement of IP"