Recently, the Ministry of Communications announced its decision to set up a Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU). The primary role of this unit is to handle complaints regarding unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) and the increasing cases of financial fraud within the digital payments sector. A Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection (TAFCOP) will also be established in all 22 licensed service areas across the country. These measures are part of an initiative to ensure strict adherence to the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preferences Regulations (TCCCPR) enacted in 2018.
Backdrop of Strict Regulatory Measures
In the recent past, the Delhi High Court ordered the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to strictly implement the regulations introduced in 2018 aimed at curbing UCCs. It’s noteworthy that TRAI had imposed hefty fines ranging up to Rs 30 crore on telecom powerhouses such as Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Vodafone Idea, and Reliance Jio Infocomm for not taking adequate steps to control UCCs between April to June 2020. The Reserve Bank of India reported that frauds involving credit and debit cards, identity cloning, and spam amounted to Rs 220 crore in the year 2018-19.
The Purpose and Significance of the Digital Intelligence Unit
The DIU is expected to coordinate with various law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and telecom service providers to investigate fraudulent activities involving telecom resources. This initiative seeks to curb UICs, an area of concern for both the Telecom Ministry and TRAI.
Redressal of Complaints and Trust Building
In addition to the DIU, a web-based and mobile application along with an SMS-based system will be developed to effectively address people’s complaints. This is expected to build trust in the digital ecosystem, making financial transactions through mobile more secure and reliable, and promoting the Digital India initiative.
Unsolicited Commercial Communication on Over-The-Top Service Providers
TRAI is preparing a consultation paper to deal with UCC on Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers such as WhatsApp, which are currently not covered under existing systems.
About Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Established by an Act of Parliament (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997), TRAI’s objectives include regulating telecom services, setting or revising tariffs for telecom services, and promoting a level playing field to facilitate fair competition. In 2000, TRAI saw a significant amendment with the establishment of Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over adjudicatory and disputes resolution functions from TRAI.