Enforce traceability, user privacy norms on internet calling and messaging apps: COAI
traceability and user privacy rules on WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Meet as well as other calling and messaging apps along with telecom operators as such platforms provide similar services using internet network, industry body COAI said. Telecom operators want the government and regulator to enforce message traceability and user privacy rule on these apps to curb spam and illegal activities as majority of messaging traffic has moved to data networks from SMS, COAI said.
In a recent direction, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has mandated telecom operators to enhance message traceability. The regulator has mandated that the trail of all messages from senders to recipients must be traceable from November 1, 2024.
Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and others, said that while the telecom service providers are working jointly with the Trai and the other stakeholders on this aspect, the OTT (over-the-top) communication services, without the requisite security and regulatory checks, is a growing concern in this regard.
«Traceability and user privacy are two benchmarks for this sector that the TSPs are striving to provide to ensure security of the users, and the same should be applicable to OTT communication services as well,» S P Kochhar, Director General of COAI, told PTI.
He said that a lot of undesirable activities happen on non-TSP networks but because of lack of application of regulation and security measures, there is hardly
