Members are hereby advised to refer to attached directions dated May 12, 2023 and June 02, 2023 (Refer Annexures) from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (“TRAI”).
TRAI has advised to expedite and complete the re-verification of headers and message templates by Principal Entities (“PEs”) so as to stop their misuse by fraudsters who have managed to get access of such headers or message templates.
SEBI has advised that all intermediaries who send bulk SMSes and referred to as Principal Entities (“PEs”), in order to strengthen the process so that only genuine communications go to the consumers, may be sensitized with the following instructions of TRAI issued to effectively implement the aforesaid directions:
1. Whitelisting of URLs / Apks / OTT links / call back numbers by PEs - TRAI has issued directions for PEs to ensure that only whitelisted URLs / Apks / OTT links / call back numbers are allowed in the content templates. Message containing other URLs / Apks / OTT links / call back numbers shall be stopped from further transmission. Variables, if any, being used in message content templates need to be pre-tagged for the purpose they are to be used so as to avoid misuse.
2. Digital Consent Acquisition (“DCA”) - On June 02, 2023, TRAI has issued a Direction to all the Access providers to develop and deploy the DCA facility for creating a unified platform to register customer consent digitally across all service providers and PEs. No other mechanism of consumer consent shall be accepted for ease of confirmation and prevention of misuse. Accordingly, PEs need to acquire digital consent of their consumers in co-ordination with their service providers.
Copies of TRAI’s directions dated May 12, 2023 and June 02, 2023 are enclosed herewith for your ready reference.
Members are advised to take note of the circular and ensure compliance.
For and on behalf of the Indian Clearing Corporation Limited.
Anand Shaha
General Manager
Regulatory & Compliance
|