India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has stepped in to quash the misinformation spreading claims on social media and news outlets about potential delays in receiving one-time passwords (OTPs) starting December 1, 2024. TRAI clarified that its newly introduced message traceability guidelines will not disrupt OTP delivery or other essential services.
The controversy stems from TRAI’s recent mandate requiring telecom operators to implement message traceability systems to combat spam and fraudulent communication. Some reports inaccurately claimed these new measures would delay critical services like Aadhaar authentication and net banking, sparking public anxiety.
Taking to X, TRAI labelled these allegations as “factually incorrect.” The regulator assured users that the traceability requirements are designed to improve security and transparency in communication networks without affecting the speed of message delivery.
“This is factually incorrect. TRAI has mandated the Access Providers to ensure message traceability. It will not delay delivery of any message,” TRAI wrote.
The new law will require telecom service providers to trace the origin of bulk messages, including one-time passwords. TRAI’s traceability guidelines, initially scheduled for implementation on November 1, 2024, were deferred to November 30, 2024, to allow telecom providers sufficient time to make the necessary technical upgrades.
This extension was intended to ensure a seamless transition with minimal impact on essential services.
According to TRAI, telecom operators have already deployed the required infrastructure to comply with the mandate. The additional preparation time allowed Principal Entities and Telemarketers to finalise their declarations, ensuring uninterrupted OTP-based transactions as the guidelines take effect.
The traceability rules form part of TRAI’s broader strategy to bolster cybersecurity and tackle telecom sector fraud. By ensuring that every bulk message can be traced back to its origin, the new system seeks to curb spam and unauthorised promotional content.
Earlier this year, TRAI introduced a range of penalties for unauthorised telemarketing practices, including disconnecting telecom resources and blacklisting offenders for up to two years. The results have been promising: between August and October 2024, complaints about spam calls dropped by 20%.
In the News: Critics pushback as Australia enacts social media ban for under-16s
