TRAI Launches Digital Consent Management Platform To Curb Spam Calls

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched a pilot project to build a digital consent management system to curb spam calls. 

Under the project, the regulator will validate the operational, technical, and regulatory aspects of a digital consent registration function. 

In coordination with the RBI, TRAI has roped in select banks and telecom operators to pilot this framework. The regulator said that the banking sector will be prioritised for the first phase of implementation due to “sensitivity of banking transactions and cases of financial frauds through spam calls”.

The pilot initiative, which will be operationalised under a regulatory sandbox, will also pave the way for gradual scaling up of the digital consent management platform across sectors. 

“This pilot, running under a regulatory sandbox framework, will validate the operational, technical, and regulatory aspects of the enhanced Consent Registration Function (CRF) and lay the foundation for sector-wise scaling of the digital consent ecosystem,” TRAI said in a statement. 

The telecom regulator added that the initiative aligns with its larger goal of “safeguarding consumer interest and enhancing trust” in legitimate commercial communications. TRAI also said that it plans to continue working with sectoral regulators and stakeholders to ensure transparent practices in the ecosystem. 

TRAI’s Crackdown On Spam

The development of a digital consent management platform comes at a time when there has been a spurt in spam calls and unsolicited communications received by customers.

In the statement, the regulator flagged the rise of such communication by business entities from which a consumer has previously purchased goods or services. TRAI said that businesses claimed to have consumer consent. However, this consent is often taken via offline or unverifiable means. 

“… In many cases, these consents were collected through offline or unverifiable means, making it extremely difficult to ascertain their validity and genuineness. In several instances, consumers report that their mobile numbers have been acquired by the entities for this purpose through misrepresentation, deception, or unauthorised data-sharing practices,” said TRAI. 

To curb this, the regulator has undertaken a series of measures in recent months, including allowing telecom subscribers to register complaints against unregistered telemarketers and initiating disconnection of telecom resources used for spamming. 

As part of this, TRAI also launched a project last year to build a secure and interoperable digital consent registry, maintained by telcos, to acquire consent digitally and onboard entities sending commercial communications.

In February this year, the regulator also amended the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018 to curb pesky spam calls. The new rules propose fines up to INR 10 Lakh against telcos over non-compliance. A month later, TRAI reportedly relaxed its tight deadlines amid outcry from telecom operators.

Last year, TRAI and the telecom department jointly blocked 1 Cr mobile connections in relation to financial frauds.