Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), led a meeting to address the persistent issue of unwanted promotional calls from businesses, as shared by the DoCA in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
They delved into the shift towards internet calls, particularly through platforms like WhatsApp, where marketing messages are being sent even though recipients can opt out.
During the meeting, there was a proposal to form a committee to create guidelines for controlling these unwanted calls, and it was mentioned that the government is considering regulating platforms like WhatsApp to tackle the growing problem of spam calls and messages, with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs spearheading the discussions.
Various stakeholders attended the meeting, including representatives from the Department of Telecommunications, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), and major telecom companies such as Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and Bharti Airtel.
In 2018, TRAI mandated telcos to implement a blockchain-based system to authenticate enterprises sending commercial messages, ensuring users only receive communications they consented to. Additionally, the government recently disconnected over 74,000 numbers and imposed fines totaling Rs. 110 crore to deter violators of regulations against pesky calls.
Recent government initiatives prioritize the safety and security of telecom users, including measures to strengthen Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures and verify Points of Sale (PoS) rigorously.
With the DoCA proposing a committee to draft guidelines, there’s hope for combating the surge in unwanted calls and messages, creating a safer environment for users.