India forces caller

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Published: 2026-09-19T01:30:50.480Z • Permanent link

India's tech regulator has ordered major caller-ID app providers to feed user reports of spam calls directly to the country's telcos. This directive, issued in early August, affects prominent players such as Truecaller and Hiya, which have millions of users across India. According to reports, the move is aimed at combating the rising tide of spam calls that plague Indian users, with an estimated 3 billion unwanted calls made every month. India's telecoms regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), claims that by working closely with caller-ID apps, it can identify and block these unwanted calls more effectively. TRAI's chairperson, Gandhi, stated that the regulator will "work closely with these apps to ensure that users are protected from unwanted calls.

The move is part of a broader effort to improve India's cybersecurity landscape. In recent years, the country has seen a significant increase in cyberattacks, with hackers targeting everything from government databases to consumer accounts. The Indian government has taken steps to address this issue, including the establishment of a new cybersecurity agency. However, the regulator believes that a more collaborative approach is needed, particularly when it comes to dealing with spam calls. By requiring caller-ID apps to report spam calls directly to telcos, TRAI hopes to create a more effective system for identifying and blocking unwanted calls.

Industry insiders say that the move could have significant implications for the caller-ID app market. Truecaller, which has been a major player in the Indian market, has already begun implementing the new reporting system. However, some users have expressed concerns about the potential impact on user experience. "We're committed to protecting our users from spam calls," said a spokesperson for Truecaller. "However, we also want to ensure that our users are not unnecessarily flagged as spammers.

The impact of this move will be felt across the Global Infrastructure domain, particularly in the areas of cybersecurity and telecommunications. The increasing number of spam calls in India is just one example of a broader trend, with many countries experiencing similar issues. According to a recent report, the global number of spam calls is expected to reach 50 billion per month by the end of the year. This has significant implications for telcos, which are already struggling to keep up with the volume of calls. By working closely with caller-ID apps, telcos can identify and block unwanted calls more effectively, reducing the risk of cyberattacks and improving user experience.

The move also highlights the growing importance of data intelligence in the cybersecurity landscape. By requiring caller-ID apps to report spam calls directly to telcos, TRAI is creating a more comprehensive picture of the types of calls that are being made. This data can be used to improve the effectiveness of spam-blocking systems, reducing the risk of cyberattacks and improving user experience. Research communities are already taking notice, with many experts hailing the move as a significant step forward in the fight against spam calls.

The move to require caller-ID apps to report spam calls directly to telcos is just one example of a broader trend towards greater collaboration between regulators, industry players, and research communities. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of data intelligence in the cybersecurity landscape. The increasing use of big data and analytics has enabled companies to identify and block spam calls more effectively, but it also raises concerns about user privacy and data protection.