DoT to fine Rs 10,000 for fraud messages

Department of Telecom (DoT) has proposed to fine Rs 10,000 for fraud messages in order to tighten noose on pesky callers.

Key Points

• DoT will put a fine of Rs 10,000 for every call and SMS made by telemarketers after 50 violations.
• Norms were made more stringent by reducing slabs for levying penalty to

1. Rs 1,000 per violation for 0-10 breaches.
2. Rs 5,000 each for 10-50 violations and
3. Rs 10,000 each for more than 50 violations.

• Presently, Slabs under Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018 are 0-100, 100-1,000 and more than 1,000 violations.
• Under the new norms, DoT’s Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) will check violations at device-level as well.
• DIU will send system generated message to suspected numbers to verify it.
• In case of non-re-verification, all numbers will be disconnected and associated IMEIs will be put under suspected list. After that, no calls, SMS or data will be allowed for those IMEIs in suspected list for a period of 30 days.
• Any communication made by pesky callers from new connection using devices with IMEI number recorded in grey list will be re-verified.
• If pesky caller changes device, IMEI number of new devices will also be put in suspected list by system until re-verification gets completed.

Department of Telecommunications (DoT)

DoT is a department of Ministry of Communications of executive branch of Government of India. DoT has been formulating developmental policies to accelerate growth of telecommunication services. It is also responsible for granting licenses for various telecom services such as Unified Access Service Internet and VSAT service. It is responsible for frequency management across radio communication in close coordination with international bodies. It further enforces wireless regulatory measures by monitoring wireless transmission for users in India.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2021