₹10 lakh Penalty Imposed: CCPA Penalises Flipkart and Meta for Illegal Walkie-Talkie Listings

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed penalties of ₹10 lakh each on Flipkart and Meta Platforms for allowing the sale of walkie-talkies without necessary legal disclosures on their platforms, as per Bar and Bench report. 

CCPA's Findings on Walkie-Talkie Listings 

In January 2026, the CCPA issued orders against Flipkart and Meta, highlighting their failure to inform consumers about critical legal requirements for walkie-talkies.  

These devices are regulated under the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and require specific approvals for use, such as a wireless operating licence and Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certification. 

The CCPA found that both platforms hosted listings without disclosing these requirements, misleading consumers into believing the devices were lawful for unrestricted use. The Authority emphasised the need for platforms to ensure compliance with legal standards. 

Flipkart's Role and Response 

The CCPA took suo motu cognisance of the issue on Flipkart, noting that 8,708 sellers had listed walkie-talkies, resulting in the sale of 1,08,206 units since January 2023. None of these listings provided information on licensing requirements or verified ETA/WPC certification details. 

Flipkart argued that it was merely an intermediary, but the CCPA rejected this defence, stating that marketplace entities have independent obligations to ensure regulated products are sold with legally mandated disclosures. 

Meta's Involvement and Defence 

Similarly, Meta faced scrutiny for allowing walkie-talkie listings on Facebook Marketplace without necessary disclosures. Although Meta removed some listings after receiving a show-cause notice, the CCPA found these actions reactive and insufficient. 

The Authority determined that Facebook Marketplace functions as a marketplace e-commerce entity and is subject to the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020. The repeated hosting of non-compliant listings indicated inadequate enforcement mechanisms. 

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Conclusion 

The CCPA's decision to fine Flipkart and Meta ₹10 lakh each underscores the importance of compliance with legal requirements for selling regulated products. Both platforms were found to have engaged in misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices, violating the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. 

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