New Delhi – Telecom regulator and financial watchdogs have agreed on a series of new steps to strengthen consumer protection in digital communication and financial transactions, including tougher rules for spam control, improved consent systems and greater transparency around fraud prevention.
At the ninth meeting of the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR) held in New Delhi, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and its counterparts from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and other agencies backed measures that could have a direct impact on how millions of people interact with businesses online.
One of the key outcomes was progress on the Digital Consent Acquisition project, jointly piloted by TRAI and the RBI at 11 banks. The system aims to give customers more control over how their data and contact details are used for promotional messages.
Once rolled out by February 2026, it will require firms to obtain explicit consent before sending messages or marketing offers.
According to consumer rights experts, this has potential to significantly reduce unsolicited messages and misuse of customer data. “Clear consent systems are essential for user trust. This initiative will make digital communication more accountable,” said a senior official involved in the pilot.
Potential to reduce spam calls and cyber fraud
Regulators also agreed on stricter measures to curb spam calls and fraudulent links. TRAI will make whitelisting mandatory for all URLs, app links and callback numbers sent in SMS messages.
Only approved links will be allowed, making it harder for scammers to impersonate banks or government agencies through fake websites and shortened URLs.
In addition, telecom operators and TRAI may start publishing the names of blacklisted entities engaged in spamming. Making such data public is expected to deter repeat offenders and alert consumers to potential fraudsters.
The committee endorsed a phased migration to the 1600-series numbering plan for commercial communication in the banking, financial services and insurance sectors.
Once implemented, messages from verified financial institutions will carry a distinct number range, helping users identify genuine alerts or transaction messages.
Small businesses may be given some flexibility under the plan, but the overall aim is to ensure that consumers can easily distinguish between authentic and fraudulent communication.
Digital security
TRAI also sought backing for enhanced sender-end security, including real-time credential validation and CAPTCHA checks for one-time passwords. These steps, regulators said, would make it harder for cybercriminals to exploit automated systems.
TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said that in a digitally connected economy, collaboration among regulators of digital services, financial services, consumer protection and law enforcement agencies is paramount.
“Today’s decisions reflect our shared commitment to building a secure and transparent digital communication ecosystem,” said Lahoti.
