Our society has been experiencing an increase in unwanted, unsolicited calls from unknown numbers. This problem has led to the proposal of a solution by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). They are suggesting the introduction of the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) which would provide information on the calling party to the receiver.
Calling Name Presentation: An Overview and Its Purpose
The CNAP is a feature similar to popular apps like Truecaller and Bharat Caller ID & Anti-Spam. The goal of this feature is to offer telephone subscribers crucial information about incoming calls, enabling them to make informed decisions and reduce harassment from both unknown callers and spam. As things stand, existing technologies only present the number of the caller on the receiver’s phone. Because the name and identity of the caller aren’t provided, some people choose not to answer, fearing it could be unwanted commercial communication from unregistered telemarketers. This suspicion can cause genuine calls to go unanswered as well.
The need for such a feature becomes apparent when we look at statistics. According to Truecaller’s ‘2021 Global Spam and Scam Report’, the average number of spam calls per user each month in India stood at 16.8. In October 2022, the total spam volume received exceeded 3.8 billion calls.
Potential Challenges with Calling Name Presentation
Despite its potential advantages, the implementation of CNAP comes with its own set of challenges. One such challenge is latency – the time taken to set up a call may slightly increase. Moving from a faster wireless network, such as 4G or 5G, to a slower one, like 2G or 3G, or vice-versa, could also affect responsiveness.
Another challenge relates to privacy concerns. It remains unclear how the CNAP mechanism would balance the caller’s right of anonymity, which is an essential aspect of privacy rights. For instance, whistle-blowers and employees facing harassment may prefer to remain anonymous. Therefore, it’s important that any system developed considers these nuances rather than relying on a centralized database run by a third party to host and share data.
Moving Forward with Calling Name Presentation
While revealing the caller’s identity could be helpful, the impact of this system would only be significant if many people utilize it. It would also need to be user-friendly and have an effective mechanism in place. Active participation from subscribers would ensure that spammers get correctly identified and prevented from making further calls.
Additionally, the government plays a key role. It should invest in digital literacy and equip citizens with the skills to navigate and use technology safely and effectively. This includes educating them about potential dangers such as financial frauds and spoofing and teaching them not to indiscriminately share personal data.
The introduction of the CNAP could be a major stride towards reducing the nuisance caused by spam calls. However, its effectiveness will depend on how well the feature is implemented and used, and how effectively potential challenges are addressed.