India directs Meta, Google, and X to remove content enabling CLI spoofing under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, to curb cyber threats
New Delhi: The government has directed all social media platforms, including Meta, Instagram, Google, and X, to remove specific content or applications that facilitate users in committing offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
This step by the government comes after certain social media influencers posted videos on altering Calling Line Identification (CLI) while making calls, which makes the recipient see an incorrect phone number. This practice is technically considered tampering with telecommunication identification and is called CLI spoofing.
Generally, the department of telecommunications (DoT) does not interfere with social media platforms, as they fall under the purview of the Union ministry of electronics and information technology. However, the DoT is learnt to have intervened in this instance due to content on these platforms was helping people to violate provisions of the Telecommunications Act.
“All social media platforms, including Meta, Instagram, Google, and X, need to remove specific content or applications that facilitate users in committing offences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Technically, this is tampering with telecommunication identification and is called CLI spoofing,” the DoT said in an advisory.
In October last year, the telecom department announced its plan to launch the second phase of a centralised system to block international spoofed calls. Social media platforms are now required to submit compliance by February 28, based on the report.
The DoT has also introduced several initiatives, including the Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU). The move, however, is aimed at combating such threats and curbing the misuse of telecom resources for cybercrime and financial fraud.
Recently, the markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), was also seeking broader powers from the government to investigate market violations related to unregulated financial advice circulating on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Additionally, the DoT signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) earlier on Tuesday to foster collaboration on cutting-edge technologies like AI-driven solutions, digital twins, virtual worlds, and IMT-2030 technologies.
Furthermore, in September last year, the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY) mandated social media platforms to release their monthly compliance reports under the Information Technology Rules 2021. These reports must include details on complaints received, actions taken, and content removed or blocked through automated monitoring, with submission required by the 10th of each month.
