Consumer affairs to step in to check WhatsApp spam

It will not be the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), but the consumer affairs ministry, which will step in to curb spam calls and messages on over-the-top (OTT) applications like WhatsApp.

Officials said that since the telecom regulator does not have the power to regulate OTTs, it has recommended that the consumer affairs ministry step in as it has the powers under the Consumer Protection Act. “This is the best way to come up with a regulatory mechanism to check spam calls and messages on WhatsApp,” officials added.