Government to set up digital intelligence unit to tackle pesky calls, financial frauds
“The government will set aside Rs20-25 crore initially to set up the system…once the complaint comes in, the government can levy not just financial penalties, but also block the SIM card and also the device itself,” a senior official advised ET.
The authorities has additionally determined to set up a nodal company – Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) – which is able to coordinate with groups throughout Department of Telecommunications, telcos and financial establishments in investigating any fraudulent exercise involving telecom sources.
“The above system will strengthen the trust of people in the digital ecosystem and will make financial digital transactions primarily through mobile more secure and reliable,” the federal government mentioned in an announcement Monday.
The steps have been determined at a gathering held on Monday, wherein telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad ordered strict motion towards errant telemarketers and people concerned in harassment of telecom subscribers. Others senior officers who have been a part of the assembly included the telecom secretary, member (expertise) and DDG (Access Service).
During the assembly, it was additionally proposed that financial penalties be levied on telemarketeers and people for violations of legal guidelines on the again of accelerating incidents of financial fraud carried out utilizing telecom sources.
Prasad “also directed to devise special strategies including blocking of telecom operations due to rising concern in Jamtara and Mewat region for curbing of fraudulent activities involving usage of telecom resources,” the federal government mentioned in an announcement Monday.
The minister additionally directed DoT officers to meet telcos and telemarketeers to underline the gravity of the problem and guarantee an instantaneous cease to this sort of harassment and fraudulent behaviour.
The newest transfer by the federal government comes on the again of a battle between he telecom regulator and telcos on one aspect and the digital funds trade on the opposite, on the necessity for stricter laws to curb pretend SMS headers by scamsters to dupe e-transaction clients.
Infact, officers identified within the assembly that even the subscribers registered in Do-Not Disturb (DND) service proceed to obtain business communication from Registered Tele-Marketers (RTMs) and additional Unregistered Tele-Marketers (UTMs) are additionally sending business communication to the subscribers.
The battle got here to a head when digital funds main – Paytm filed a writ petition final 12 months towards telecom sector regulato, telcos – Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) amongst others.
Paytm moved courts alleging lax implementation of the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation 2018 (TCCCPR). As per the TCCCPR launched in 2018, all enterprise entities that ship promotional and transactional SMSes should register their headers and content material on a blockchain-based platform operated by telcos.
Paytm in its writ petition, filed final 12 months, had contended that telecom operators had been lax within the implementation of the brand new rule, which allowed fraudsters to manipulate their clients by sending pretend messages below duplicate headers. Telcos and the regulator had denied the allegations.
Earlier this month, the Delhi High Court directed the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to guarantee “strict and complete” enforcement of laws by telcos on this matter.
