The DoT has ordered social media and app platforms to remove content that helps change Caller ID (CLI) illegally. Platforms must comply by Feb 28, 2025, or face legal action!
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INDIA: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has given a strict warning to social media platforms and app-hosting services. On February 18, DoT told them to quickly remove any content or apps that help people change their Caller ID (CLI) or pretend to be someone else while making calls.
This action has been taken because many people are misusing technology to hide their real phone numbers. This can lead to fraud or other harmful activities.
“It has been brought to the notice of Department of Telecommunications that an influencer has used a social media platform to tell people how to change their Calling Line Identification (CLI) number while making calls so that the called party sees some other number. Technically this is tampering of telecommunication identification and called CLI spoofing.”
The government has made it clear that doing this is against the law. Section 42 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, strictly prohibits such actions.
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“Your kind attention is invited to Section 42 (3) (c) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 which specifically bars tampering of telecommunication identification.”
The law also says that it is illegal to get SIM cards or any other telecom identification through fraud, cheating, or impersonation.
“obtaining subscriber identity modules or other telecommunication identification through fraud, cheating or impersonation.”
DoT has said that these are serious crimes. They are cognizable and non-bailable, which means the police can arrest the accused without a warrant, and getting bail will be very difficult.
Not only the people using such apps, but even the platforms that allow this content are breaking the law.
“Any application that allows to tamper telecom identifier (like CLI, IP address, IMEI etc.) is abetting users in committing an offence by contravening provisions of Telecommunication Act, 2023 and therefore Social media platforms and Application hosting platforms are required to remove such content / applications that allows or promotes tamper of telecom identifier (like CLI, IP address, IMEI etc.) in contravention to the provisions of the Telecommunication Act, 2023.”
The DoT has warned that if these platforms do not remove the content, they will also face legal action under Section 42 of the law.
All platforms must follow this order and submit a report confirming compliance by February 28, 2025, to dirdiu-dot@gov.in.
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