The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) — whose members include Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea — has called upon the government to implement traceability and user privacy regulations on popular over-the-top (OTT) communication services such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google Meet. The industry body argues that these apps provide similar services to traditional telecom operators, using the same internet infrastructure, and should therefore be subject to the same rules.
SP Kochhar, Director General of COAI, highlighted the growing concerns surrounding security and regulatory compliance within the OTT space.He pointed out that despite receiving numerous complaints about spam and illegal activities on these platforms, there is often a lack of accountability and closure of reported violations.
Kochhar said that there is a fine balance that needs to be drawn between national security imperatives and personal privacy. “Both are important but the supremacy should obviously go to ‘national security’. Regulating OTT apps appropriately and under the same note as that of telecommunication services will certainly be a step in that direction,” he said.
Shift in messaging traffic
In a recent statement, COAI emphasized the increasing reliance on OTT platforms for messaging and communication, which has led to a significant shift in traffic away from traditional SMS services. This trend has made it difficult for telecom operators to effectively curb spam and illegal activities without the necessary regulatory oversight.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has already mandated telecom operators to enhance message traceability starting from November 1, 2024. However, COAI believes that these measures should be extended to OTT apps as well to ensure a level playing field and protect user privacy.
More cyber frauds happening on OTT platforms
Kochhar also emphasized the significant revenue generated by OTT apps compared to traditional SMS services, further underscoring the need for regulation. He argued that the majority of cyber frauds are now being carried out through OTT platforms, making it imperative to apply the same rules to these apps as to telecom operators.
While acknowledging the importance of personal privacy, COAI stressed the need to prioritize national security. The industry body believes that regulating OTT apps under the same framework as telecom services would be a crucial step in addressing these concerns and ensuring a more secure and accountable digital ecosystem.
SP Kochhar, Director General of COAI, highlighted the growing concerns surrounding security and regulatory compliance within the OTT space.He pointed out that despite receiving numerous complaints about spam and illegal activities on these platforms, there is often a lack of accountability and closure of reported violations.
Kochhar said that there is a fine balance that needs to be drawn between national security imperatives and personal privacy. “Both are important but the supremacy should obviously go to ‘national security’. Regulating OTT apps appropriately and under the same note as that of telecommunication services will certainly be a step in that direction,” he said.
Shift in messaging traffic
In a recent statement, COAI emphasized the increasing reliance on OTT platforms for messaging and communication, which has led to a significant shift in traffic away from traditional SMS services. This trend has made it difficult for telecom operators to effectively curb spam and illegal activities without the necessary regulatory oversight.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has already mandated telecom operators to enhance message traceability starting from November 1, 2024. However, COAI believes that these measures should be extended to OTT apps as well to ensure a level playing field and protect user privacy.
More cyber frauds happening on OTT platforms
Kochhar also emphasized the significant revenue generated by OTT apps compared to traditional SMS services, further underscoring the need for regulation. He argued that the majority of cyber frauds are now being carried out through OTT platforms, making it imperative to apply the same rules to these apps as to telecom operators.
While acknowledging the importance of personal privacy, COAI stressed the need to prioritize national security. The industry body believes that regulating OTT apps under the same framework as telecom services would be a crucial step in addressing these concerns and ensuring a more secure and accountable digital ecosystem.
#Reliance #Jio #Airtel #Vodafone #Idea #government #regulating #WhatsApp #Telegram #Google #Meet #national #security #threat #Times #India
