DoT Asks Meta, Google, Others To Act Against Content Breaching Telecom Act

SUMMARY

The DoT asked social media platforms to remove specific content that facilitate users to commit offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023

The advisory follows reports of certain social media influencers instructing users on how to alter their calling line identification (CLI) while making calls

In October last year, the telecom department announced its plan to launch the second phase of a centralised system to block international spoofed calls

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has reportedly asked all the social media platforms, including Meta, Instagram, Google and X, to remove specific content or applications that facilitate users in committing offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

As per ET, the advisory follows reports of certain social media influencers instructing users on how to alter their calling line identification (CLI) while making calls, causing the recipient to see a different number.

“Technically this is tampering of telecommunication identification and called CLI spoofing,” the advisory said.

Spoofed calls are fraudulent international calls that appear to originate from Indian mobile numbers.

In October last year, the telecom department announced its plan to launch the second phase of a centralised system to block international spoofed calls.

The social media platforms are now asked to submit compliance by February 28, based on the report.

Meanwhile, markets regulator Securities and Exchanges Board of India (SEBI) was seeking broader powers from the government to investigate market violations related to the unregulated financial advice circulating on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, earlier this month.

To further combat these threats, the DoT has introduced several initiatives. One of these is the Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU), aimed at curbing the misuse of telecom resources for cybercrime and financial fraud.

Additionally, in September last year, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) mandated social media platforms to release their monthly compliance reports under the Information Technology Rules 2021, including complaints received, actions taken and content removed or blocked through automated monitoring, and to submit the report by the 10th of each month.

The telecom department also signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to foster collaboration on cutting-edge technologies like AI-driven solutions, digital twins, virtual worlds, and IMT-2030 technologies, earlier on Tuesday.

Under the pact, the DoT will share insights from its Sangam initiative and ITU will provide findings from its Citiverse programme.