DoT, TRAI to examine spam on OTT communication platforms: Jyotiraditya Scindia

The government will look into spam and fraudulent communication on over-the-top (OTT) platforms such as WhatsApp and similar apps, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said. He has asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and telecom regulator TRAI to examine the issue and suggest ways to curb such misuse.

Scindia noted that software to detect some spam calls is already deployed across several telecom networks, but added that rising fraud and unsolicited messages over internet-based calling and messaging need specific attention. The move signals a possible extension of existing spam controls in traditional telecom networks to OTT communication services, though any detailed framework will depend on what DoT and TRAI recommend.