THE police have agreed to respond to social activist and blogger Vishal Persad’s request for the number of warrants applied for under the Interception of Communications Act (IOCA).

Attorneys for the Commissioner of Police told Justice Nadia Kangaloo they received instructions to provide an access decision by February 26. The matter has been adjourned to March 6.

Persad filed his freedom of information request as part of a transparency initiative called "Project Privacy Watch", on June 9, 2024. His application seeks critical data on how often the police have sought court orders for communication interceptions and key disclosure orders (which compel individuals to provide passwords to electronic devices).