TRAI to use AI to catch spam calls, tighten rules on automated business calls

There is relief in sight for people troubled by spam calls. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, or TRAI, has decided to adopt AI-based methods to detect suspected spam calls. It has also tightened its overall system by enforcing new rules for automated business calls.

Under the new rules, telecom companies will have to share information with each other about numbers suspected of being involved in spam activity. When multiple numbers linked to the same sender get flagged, further investigation will be permitted. The framework lays down conditions for automated calls, imposes a termination charge on certain A2P calls, gives customers a way to appeal, and places new restrictions on call-management apps.

TRAI says telecom companies will use AI-based methods to identify numbers that are highly likely to be involved in spam activity, and will share this information with other companies as well. This new process allows companies to take stricter action when spam complaints come in about multiple numbers linked to the same sender.

If companies flag five or more such numbers within 10 days, they can initiate fresh KYC checks and physical verification of that sender. Further action could include blocking outgoing service, while repeated violations will result in the connection being disconnected.

TRAI has defined Application-to-Person, or A2P, calls as calls made by a person through an application, software system or automated platform without directly dialling a number. This definition includes auto-dialled calls, robocalls, pre-recorded messages and calls made using artificial or recorded voice.

Businesses and other entities using A2P calling systems will have to inform their telecom provider about the service and disclose the numbers used for these calls. If they fail to disclose their A2P calls, TRAI will treat them as unsolicited commercial communication.

Under the new rules, a termination charge of up to 5 paise per minute has also been imposed on A2P calls. TRAI will exempt calls made from numbering series designated for business communication, as well as calls that have received special approval from the authority.

For customers, the new framework also provides a way to appeal against action taken under anti-spam rules. TRAI has also introduced additional safeguards to prevent misuse of business headers and content templates. Call-management apps handling calls from certain numbering series will have to comply with these restrictions. They cannot completely block, filter or label as spam calls coming from the 140xx, 1600xx or 1601xx series.