Truecaller row: TRAI seeks ‘designated agency’ status under IT Act; Meity examining it

New Delhi, Telecom regulator TRAI has sought to be designated as an ‘authorised agency’ under the IT Act, a status that would allow it to act against call management apps, and the matter is now being examined by the IT Ministry, according to sources.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday had asserted that no app can block phone calls originating from 1600 number series that are meant for communications by regulated entities and the government to citizens.

TRAI’s assertions had come amid an ongoing tussle with caller identification app Truecaller over the labelling and identification of calls from the dedicated number series.