TRAI’s New Rules: Over 10,000 Businesses Whitelist 2.75 Lakh URLs in India
In Mumbai, Maharashtra, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) announced that more than 10,000 businesses have whitelisted over 2.75 lakh URLs following new guidelines issued in August. This move aims to enhance cybersecurity by allowing only approved URLs, APKs, and OTT links in messages. The directive, effective from October 1, requires Access Service Providers to block non-whitelisted links.
Cybersecurity Measures
Whitelisting is a strategy to protect against threats like malware and phishing. TRAI’s directive mandates Access Providers to enforce this for all messages, ensuring only safe links are transmitted. As part of the crackdown on spam, over 800 entities have been blacklisted, and 18 lakh numbers disconnected for non-compliance.
Telemarketing and Fraud Prevention
TRAI has also moved telemarketing calls to the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform, enhancing monitoring and reducing misuse. Additionally, 3.5 lakh unused headers and 12 lakh fraudulent content templates have been blocked to protect consumers.
Improving Message Traceability
Access Providers are working on technical solutions for better message traceability, requiring Senders to define the complete message chain. This ensures that message headers and content templates are not misused.
Collaboration for Enhanced Control
TRAI is collaborating with agencies like RBI, SEBI, and IRDAI through the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR) to strengthen control over commercial communications and explore future improvements.
Doubts Revealed
TRAI -: TRAI stands for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. It is a government body that regulates telecommunications in India, making sure everything runs smoothly and fairly.
Whitelist -: To whitelist means to allow certain things, like websites or URLs, to be accessed. In this case, businesses are allowing specific URLs to be used safely.
URLs -: URLs are like addresses for websites on the internet. They help you find and visit different web pages.
Access Service Providers -: Access Service Providers are companies that give you access to the internet and phone services, like Jio, Airtel, or BSNL in India.
Blacklisting -: Blacklisting means blocking or not allowing certain things, like phone numbers or websites, because they might be harmful or unwanted.
RBI -: RBI stands for the Reserve Bank of India. It is India’s central bank, which manages the country’s money and financial system.
SEBI -: SEBI stands for the Securities and Exchange Board of India. It is a government agency that regulates the stock market and protects investors.