The Mobile Operators Affiliation of India (COAI) — whose members embrace Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Concept — has known as upon the federal government to implement traceability and consumer privateness rules on in style over-the-top (OTT) communication providers akin to WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google Meet. The business physique argues that these apps present related providers to conventional telecom operators, utilizing the identical web infrastructure, and will subsequently be topic to the identical guidelines.
SP Kochhar, Director Normal of COAI, highlighted the rising issues surrounding safety and regulatory compliance throughout the OTT area.He identified that regardless of receiving quite a few complaints about spam and unlawful actions on these platforms, there may be typically an absence of accountability and closure of reported violations.
Kochhar stated that there’s a nice steadiness that must be drawn between nationwide safety imperatives and private privateness. “Each are vital however the supremacy ought to clearly go to ‘nationwide safety’. Regulating OTT apps appropriately and beneath the identical notice as that of telecommunication providers will definitely be a step in that path,” he stated.
Shift in messaging site visitors
In a current assertion, COAI emphasised the growing reliance on OTT platforms for messaging and communication, which has led to a big shift in site visitors away from conventional SMS providers. This development has made it tough for telecom operators to successfully curb spam and unlawful actions with out the mandatory regulatory oversight.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has already mandated telecom operators to boost message traceability ranging from November 1, 2024. Nonetheless, COAI believes that these measures must be prolonged to OTT apps as effectively to make sure a stage taking part in subject and defend consumer privateness.
Extra cyber frauds taking place on OTT platforms
Kochhar additionally emphasised the numerous income generated by OTT apps in comparison with conventional SMS providers, additional underscoring the necessity for regulation. He argued that almost all of cyber frauds at the moment are being carried out by OTT platforms, making it crucial to use the identical guidelines to those apps as to telecom operators.
Whereas acknowledging the significance of private privateness, COAI careworn the necessity to prioritize nationwide safety. The business physique believes that regulating OTT apps beneath the identical framework as telecom providers can be a vital step in addressing these issues and making certain a safer and accountable digital ecosystem.
SP Kochhar, Director Normal of COAI, highlighted the rising issues surrounding safety and regulatory compliance throughout the OTT area.He identified that regardless of receiving quite a few complaints about spam and unlawful actions on these platforms, there may be typically an absence of accountability and closure of reported violations.
Kochhar stated that there’s a nice steadiness that must be drawn between nationwide safety imperatives and private privateness. “Each are vital however the supremacy ought to clearly go to ‘nationwide safety’. Regulating OTT apps appropriately and beneath the identical notice as that of telecommunication providers will definitely be a step in that path,” he stated.
Shift in messaging site visitors
In a current assertion, COAI emphasised the growing reliance on OTT platforms for messaging and communication, which has led to a big shift in site visitors away from conventional SMS providers. This development has made it tough for telecom operators to successfully curb spam and unlawful actions with out the mandatory regulatory oversight.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has already mandated telecom operators to boost message traceability ranging from November 1, 2024. Nonetheless, COAI believes that these measures must be prolonged to OTT apps as effectively to make sure a stage taking part in subject and defend consumer privateness.
Extra cyber frauds taking place on OTT platforms
Kochhar additionally emphasised the numerous income generated by OTT apps in comparison with conventional SMS providers, additional underscoring the necessity for regulation. He argued that almost all of cyber frauds at the moment are being carried out by OTT platforms, making it crucial to use the identical guidelines to those apps as to telecom operators.
Whereas acknowledging the significance of private privateness, COAI careworn the necessity to prioritize nationwide safety. The business physique believes that regulating OTT apps beneath the identical framework as telecom providers can be a vital step in addressing these issues and making certain a safer and accountable digital ecosystem.
