In latest advisory to social media platforms, India has warned against caller ID spoofing apps to curb cyber frauds. The action comes amid rising concerns about potential for fraudulent and harmful activities stemming from the masking of phone numbers.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a directive to all social media platforms, including Meta, Instagram, Google and X, urging them to remove specific content and applications that facilitate tampering and altering Calling Line Identification (CLI) for cyber crimes.
“The social media platforms and application hosting services were directed to immediately remove content and applications that facilitate or promote Caller ID spoofing,” confirmed senior cyber crime official.
The advisory warns the offences where a person obtains "subscriber identity modules or other telecommunication identification through fraud" is in violation of the Telecommunications Act punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine extending up to Rs 50 lakh or both.”
The advisory has asked all social media platforms and application hosting platforms to comply and send a compliance report to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) by February 28 stating "Any application that allows to tamper telecom identifier (like CLI, IP address, IMEI etc) is abetting users in committing an offence by contravening provisions of Telecommunications Act and therefore Social media platforms and Application hosting platforms are required to remove such content/applications that allows or promotes tamper of telecom identifier in contravention to the provisions of the Telecommunications Act.”
The advisory has highlighted a specific incident where an influencer allegedly demonstrated how to alter their Caller ID on a social media platform, allowing the called party to see a different number.
The DoT emphasised the seriousness of these offenses, noting that they are cognisable and non-bailable. The advisory further warns that platforms hosting such content also violate the law.
