TRAI extends deadline to curb spam and phishing through text messages
The revised directive mandates that all access providers ensure that traffic containing URL/APK/OTT links, which are not whitelisted, are not allowed from October 1.
New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday granted a one-month extension to service providers to comply with the directive on whitelisting of URLs, APKs and OTT links. TRAI had earlier asked major telecom operators in the country to regulate messages containing URLs, OTT links, APK files and phone numbers by September 1 without whitelisting them.
The move is aimed at curbing spam and phishing attempts by scammers who try to trick people using SMS services. The telecom regulator has now directed all access providers to submit an updated status of action taken within 15 days and a compliance report to the authority within 30 days of the issuance of this directive.
The revised directive mandates that all access providers ensure that traffic containing URL/APK/OTT links, which are not whitelisted, are not allowed from October 1.
“The aim of this step is to prevent misuse of headers and content templates, ensuring a more secure and efficient telecom ecosystem. Further, taking into account the issues raised by the access providers, a revised timeline for implementation of call back number will be fixed separately,” TRAI said.
On August 20, the Center ordered access service providers to take concrete measures to curb misuse of messaging services with effect from September 1. All access service providers were prohibited from transmitting messages containing URLs, APKs, OTT links or call back numbers. Not whitelisted by senders. To prevent misuse of templates for promotional content, TRAI has introduced penal measures for non-compliance.
“Content templates registered under the wrong category will be blacklisted, and the sender's services will be suspended for one month for repeated offences,” the government said. The telecom regulator said that the traffic will be canceled by the sender only after legal action is taken against such misuse by the sender.
