The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has called on the government to enforce stricter user privacy and traceability regulations on popular messaging and calling apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Google Meet, as well as on telecom operators offering similar services via internet networks. COAI argues that these measures are essential to combat spam and illegal activities, as most messaging traffic has shifted from SMS to data networks.
In response, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a directive requiring telecom operators to enhance message traceability, with compliance mandated by November 1, 2024 COAI, which represents major telecom players like Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and Bharti Airtel, noted that these providers are actively collaborating with TRAI and other stakeholders to meet the new regulations. The primary concern is that over-the-top (OTT) communication services currently lack adequate regulatory and security measures.
"Traceability and user privacy are two benchmarks for this sector that the TSPs are striving to provide to ensure the security of the users, and the same should be applicable to OTT communication services as well," S P Kochhar, Director General of COAI, quoted to PTI.
Several undesirable activities occurred on non-TSP networks, however, due to the lack of rules and security measures applicability reported violations hardly reach any accountability or closure.
"On one of the OTT platforms, 26,200 complaints were received for the period of June 1 to June 30, 2024. Out of these only 124 were resolved," said Kochhar.
"As against this, the consolidated revenue from SMS is just 0.12 per cent of the total revenues of TSPs. This also gives an indication that the data usage is heavily tilted towards OTT communication services. This is also borne out by the common observation that most of the cyber frauds through texting are taking place today through OTT platforms and are increasing steadily," continued he.
"Both are important but the supremacy should obviously go to 'national security'. Regulating OTT apps appropriately and under the same note as that of telecommunication services will certainly be a step in that direction," he stated.
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