TRAI Unveils Digital Consent Platform to Tackle Spam Calls

In a decisive move to address the growing problem of spam calls and unauthorised commercial communications, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has rolled out a pilot project focused on building a digital consent management system. The initiative seeks to ensure that businesses can only reach consumers with verified consent, thereby protecting users from fraud and restoring trust in commercial messaging.

TRAI Pilots Digital Consent Management to Combat Spam

The pilot project will validate the technical, operational and regulatory viability of a digital consent registration system. TRAI has collaborated with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and onboarded selected banks and telecom operators for this pilot, with an initial focus on the banking sector. 

The regulator said this sector was prioritised due to the “sensitivity of banking transactions and cases of financial fraud through spam calls”.

“This pilot, running under a regulatory sandbox framework, will validate the operational, technical, and regulatory aspects of the enhanced Consent Registration Function (CRF) and lay the foundation for sector-wise scaling of the digital consent ecosystem,” TRAI stated.

The authority noted that the platform aligns with its broader agenda of “safeguarding consumer interest and enhancing trust” in commercial communications. This new model will provide a scalable framework to gradually expand the consent ecosystem across multiple sectors.

Steps Taken to Curb Unsolicited Communications

TRAI pointed out the increase in spam messages and calls, particularly from entities that claim to have consumer consent, often obtained through unverifiable or misleading means. “ In many cases, these consents were collected through offline or unverifiable means, making it extremely difficult to ascertain their validity and genuineness. 

In several instances, consumers report that their mobile numbers have been acquired by the entities for this purpose through misrepresentation, deception, or unauthorised data-sharing practices,” the regulator noted.

To address this, TRAI has introduced several measures, including enabling users to report unregistered telemarketers and disconnecting telecom resources used for spam. Last year, it launched a secure and interoperable digital consent registry maintained by telecom providers. 

In February, the regulator amended the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations (TCCCPR), 2018, introducing fines of up to ₹10 lakh for telecom operators found non-compliant. Although TRAI relaxed some deadlines after pushback from operators, it continued its crackdown and, along with the Department of Telecommunications, blocked 1 crore mobile connections linked to financial frauds.

Read More: TRAI Imposes Tariff Cap on Public Wi-Fi to Ensure Affordable Access!

Conclusion

The digital consent management pilot marks a pivotal step in TRAI’s mission to safeguard digital communication. By focusing on verified consent and prioritising sensitive sectors like banking, the initiative not only protects consumers but also establishes a transparent framework for commercial messaging, setting the stage for wider adoption across industries.

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