SRINAGAR: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued notices to 13 major e-commerce platforms for the listing and sale of wireless communication devices—specifically walkie-talkies—without proper regulatory disclosures, licensing, or Equipment Type Approval (ETA), in violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
According to the authority, digital marketplaces including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, OLX, TradeIndia, Facebook, IndiaMart, VardaanMart, Jiomart, Krishnamart, Chimiya, Talk Pro Walie Talkie, and MaskMan Toys were found to be facilitating the sale of walkie-talkies without mandatory information regarding frequency range, licensing requirements under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, or ETA from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing.
The CCPA stated that these omissions mislead consumers into believing that such devices can be freely operated without legal consequences. Many listings also failed to specify whether the devices fell under exempted categories as per the 2018 Exemption Rules for Low Power and Short Range Radio Frequency Devices.
A preliminary analysis revealed the widespread nature of the issue, with 467 listings on Amazon, 314 on Flipkart, 489 on Meesho, and 423 on TradeIndia. The CCPA has sought detailed information from these platforms, including seller identities, product URLs, frequency specifications, ETA verification status, and units sold since January 2023.
In light of widespread non-compliance, the CCPA has announced plans to issue specific guidelines titled the Draft Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Sale and Use of Licensed Frequency Range Wireless Telegraphy Apparatus including Walkie-Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025. These will be published on the Department of Consumer Affairs website for public feedback.
The proposed guidelines will mandate seller verification and certification before listing, require disclosure of frequency and licensing information, enforce automated takedown of non-compliant listings, promote consumer awareness and establish penalties for violations and platform accountability.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Telecommunications have also been approached for input on the draft.
On May 3, the Department of Consumer Affairs held a stakeholder consultation with e-commerce and OTT platforms to emphasise the legal responsibilities of digital marketplaces. The meeting, chaired by Secretary Nidhi Khare, saw participation from Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, IndiaMart, and Meta. Platforms were directed to proactively monitor and remove non-compliant listings.
