The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken decisive action against thirteen leading e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, and OLX, issuing notices for the alleged illegal sale of licensed frequency wireless devices, commonly known as walkie-talkies. The CCPA contends that the sale of these devices without proper frequency disclosure, licensing information, or mandatory Equipment Type Approval (ETA) constitutes a clear violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The consumer watchdog has observed that walkie-talkies are being listed and sold on these digital marketplaces without clearly stating the necessity of a wireless operating license or adherence to relevant laws. Crucially, product listings fail to specify whether a license from the concerned authority is required for legal use. This omission of vital details, such as frequency range, licensing obligations under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Use of Low Power, Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018, potentially misleads consumers into believing these devices are freely usable by the general public without any legal implications.
The CCPA emphasizes that the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, mandate marketplace e-commerce entities to provide transparent and easily accessible information to enable consumers to make informed purchasing decisions. The sale of non-compliant wireless devices lacking essential regulatory disclosures is viewed as a serious breach of these statutory obligations and a misleading practice for consumers.
A preliminary analysis conducted by the Central Authority revealed a significant number of such potentially illegal listings across the platforms. This includes approximately 467 listings on Amazon, 314 on Flipkart, 489 on Meesho, and 423 on TradeIndia, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue.
In response, the CCPA has demanded comprehensive information from these e-commerce platforms. This includes the name and contact details of each seller involved in these listings, the specific product URLs and listing IDs of the walkie-talkie devices, detailed frequency specifications, and any licensing information that was displayed (or not displayed) on the listings. The CCPA has also sought details on whether Equipment Type Approval (ETA) or Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) certification details were collected or verified for these products, along with the number of units sold per listing since January 2023.
Given the apparent widespread non-compliance by e-commerce entities, the CCPA has deemed it necessary to issue specific guidelines to ensure adherence to the law and protect consumer interests. These guidelines will be outlined in 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 draft guidelines will soon be made available on the website of the Department of Consumer Affairs for public feedback and suggestions. The CCPA has also reached out to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Telecommunications for their valuable input in formulating these guidelines.
The draft guidelines aim to:
- Ensure platforms conduct due diligence before listing such products.
- Mandate verification of seller credentials and necessary certifications.
- Introduce automated systems for monitoring and removing unauthorized listings.
- Promote consumer awareness through clear and proper disclosures.
- Enforce penalties and establish platform liability in cases of non-compliance.
In a proactive step, the Department of Consumer Affairs organized a stakeholder consultation meeting on May 3, 2025, involving e-commerce and Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. The aim of this meeting, chaired by Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs was to sensitize these platforms about the existing regulatory requirements, expected compliance standards, and their accountability in curbing the illegal sale of wireless communication devices. During the consultation, platforms were explicitly directed to proactively monitor their listings and immediately remove any sellers failing to comply with applicable laws, rules, and guidelines.
This follows previous interventions, such as the prompt action taken against the illegal sale of critical safety components for motor vehicles online, which resulted in the removal of over 13,000 such listings. The CCPA is sending a clear message that e-commerce platforms will be held accountable for ensuring the legality and safety of the products sold on their marketplaces.
