A system and method of controlling ciphering of call information between a mobile communication terminal and a network initiates the transmission of a ciphering request from the terminal to the network. The network then transmits a ciphering authentication request message to the terminal and the terminal responds by transmitting a ciphering authentication response message to the network. The network then transmits a ciphering activation completion message to the terminal in accordance with the ciphering authentication response message. A system and method for controlling deactivation of ciphering of call information initiates transmission of a ciphering deactivation request from the mobile terminal to the network. The network then performs the ciphering deactivation and transmits a ciphering deactivation completion message to the terminal. Through these systems and methods, the user terminal controls ciphering and deciphering of call information instead of the network.