Telecom regulator Trai has said services such as WhatsApp, FB Messenger, FaceTime, Google Chat should not be bound by a regulatory regime for now. It also said there should not be specific rules that would mandate them to intercept user calls and messaging. Making interception mandatory may weaken the protective architecture of the communication apps or expose them to “unlawful actors”, said Trai. The views were immediately criticised by mobile operators’ grouping COAI. COAI alleged the OTT players “remain a threat to national security” in the absence of such scrutiny.