The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents major telecom players such as Reliance Jio, Airteland Vodafone Ideahas urged the Indian government to implement user privacy and traceability regulations for over-the-top (OTT) communication services such as WhatsApp, Telegramand Google Meet. COAI argues that since these platforms offer similar services to traditional telecom operators and use the same internet infrastructure, they should be subject to the same regulatory standards.
COAI Director General SP Kochhar highlighted concerns about security and regulatory compliance in the OTT space, noting that these platforms often lack accountability, especially in dealing with spam and illegal activities. Kochhar stressed the need to strike a balance between national security and personal privacy, with a focus on prioritising national security. He argued that regulating OTT applications in line with telecom services would be a step towards achieving this balance.
COAI noted the increasing shift of messaging traffic from traditional SMS services to OTT platforms, making it difficult for telecom operators to control spam and illegal activities without regulatory oversight. While the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has mandated better message traceability for telecom operators from November 2024, COAI believes that these measures should also be applied to OTT apps to ensure a level playing field and protect user privacy.
Kochhar also noted that OTT platforms generate significant revenue compared to traditional SMS services and are increasingly being used for cyber frauds.
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