SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) | Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken suo motu cognizance of the widespread illegal listing and sale of walkie-talkies (Personal Mobile Radios) on e-commerce platforms, identifying over 16,970 non-compliant listings. Leading online marketplaces including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, and Meta (Facebook Marketplace) have been penalized for facilitating the sale of devices operating on restricted radio frequency bands without mandatory statutory approvals or disclosures. Such unauthorized devices pose serious risks to national security and public safety by potentially interfering with communication networks used by police and emergency services.
Key Violations and Regulatory Gaps
Unlicensed Frequency Usage: Many devices were found operating in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, which is regulated for critical emergency services.
Misleading Advertising: Products were falsely marketed as “license-free” or “100% legal,” even though their specific operating ranges require government licensing in India.
Missing Statutory Approvals: Platforms failed to disclose whether devices had obtained Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
Deceptive Product Classification: Walkie-talkies with communication ranges of up to 30 kilometers were being sold as toys, bypassing the stringent safety and technical classifications for radio equipment.
Enforcement Actions and Penalties
Monetary Penalties: Penalties of ₹10 lakh each were imposed on Meesho, Flipkart, Amazon, and Meta Platforms Inc..
Lower-Tier Fines: Fines of ₹1 lakh each were issued to smaller or specialized platforms like Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro, and MaskMan Toys.
Mandatory Guidelines: CCPA has notified the 2025 Guidelines for radio equipment, requiring platforms to verify frequency compliance and deploy automated takedown systems for illegal listings.
Ongoing Investigations: Proceedings continue against several other entities, including India Mart and TradeIndia, as part of a broader industry-wide cleanup.
What is ‘Equipment Type Approval (ETA)’ and why is it mandatory for walkie-talkies? It is a technical certification issued by the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). ETA ensures that any wireless device sold or used in India—including walkie-talkies—is compliant with national safety standards and operates only on permitted frequency bands. In India, only devices operating strictly within the 446.0–446.2 MHz band are exempt from licensing, yet even these must have an ETA to be legally imported or sold. Without this approval, devices can cause harmful interference with sensitive networks used by disaster response agencies and law enforcement.
Policy Relevance
The crackdown reaffirms the accountability of e-commerce intermediaries and the primacy of national security in the digital marketplace.
Strategic Impact:
Intermediary Responsibility: The CCPA rejected “intermediary” immunity claims, establishing that platforms are responsible for ensuring due diligence when listing regulated radio equipment.
Safeguarding National Security: Restricting unauthorized access to the UHF band prevents potentially dangerous interference with the communication systems of disaster management and law-enforcement agencies.
Protecting Consumer Rights: Mandatory disclosures regarding licensing and ETA ensure that consumers are not unknowingly exposed to the legal risks of possessing unauthorized wireless equipment.
Regulatory Convergence: The consultation between the DoT, Ministry of Home Affairs, and CCPA signals a new, unified approach to regulating complex technology products on retail platforms.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) collaborate with e-commerce platforms to integrate a ‘Real-Time ETA Verification API’ that automatically blocks any non-certified wireless device from being listed?
Follow the full news here: CCPA takes action against Unauthorized Sale of Walkie-Talkies