GUWAHATI: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued an advisory to social media platforms and application hosting services on Wednesday, February 18, instructing them to immediately remove any content or applications that facilitate or promote Calling Line Identification (CLI) or Caller ID spoofing. This action follows increasing concerns about the misuse of technology to mask phone numbers, a practice that can enable fraudulent or harmful activities.
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According to the advisory, the DoT was alerted to an instance where an influencer used a social media platform to demonstrate how users could alter their CLI number while making calls, causing the recipient to see a different number. The department has categorised this practice as tampering with telecommunication identification, commonly referred to as CLI spoofing.
The advisory highlights the legal consequences of such actions, referencing Section 42 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Specifically, Section 42 (3) (c) prohibits tampering with telecommunication identification, while Section 42 (3) (e) outlaws obtaining subscriber identity modules or other telecommunication identifiers through fraud, cheating, or impersonation. The DoT has stressed that these offences are both cognisable and non-bailable.
Furthermore, the advisory makes it clear that platforms hosting content related to CLI spoofing are also in violation of the law. Any application that enables users to alter telecom identifiers such as CLI, IP addresses, or IMEI numbers is considered to be aiding illegal activity and contravening the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Social media and application hosting platforms have been directed to remove such content immediately.
The DoT has warned that failure to comply with the directive could result in legal action under Section 42. Platforms have been instructed to ensure compliance and submit reports confirming the removal of such content to the designated email address, dirdiu-dot@gov.in, by February 28.
