Trai has initiated measures like whitelisting URLs in commercial messages to curb spam and reduce financial fraud
Spam calls and messages not only disrupt users but also lead to financial fraud through phishing links disguised as legitimate businesses
Bharti Airtel has introduced an AI system to flag spam calls and messages, while other telecom companies are encouraged to follow suit
Whitelisting URLs is difficult in a fast-evolving digital space, but it is necessary to protect users from malicious links and fraud
The government must expedite the Digital Personal Data Protection Act to protect user data and impose penalties for unauthorised sharing of phone numbers
For real change, telcos, the government, and regulators must adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards spam and raise consumer awareness about fraud