SPAM CALLS

A timeline of developments in AI safety since the attack on Hugging Face

The episodes have highlighted the vulnerabilities in AI security and raised questions over how the fast-growing technology can be developed safely as its usage becomes more widespread globally.

Bharti Airtel shares defy weak markets, rise over 2% after launch of new plans

Bharti Airtel shares gained after the telecom major launched new postpaid plans offering additional benefits, including free international roaming.

Airtel hikes postpaid plans by Rs 50, adds free annual international roaming

Airtel has launched new postpaid plans starting at Rs 499 that include one free international roaming trip per SIM every year, along with unlimited data and calling, safety features and bundled subscriptions. The five-day roaming pack offers 5GB data, 60 minutes of calls and 25 outgoing SMSes, and the new plans will be available from October 8.

IMC 2026: PM Modi discusses digital inclusion, AI with GSMA board

Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) Board members ahead of the India Mobile Congress. Discussions focused on technology's role in inclusive development and digital public infrastructure.

Your phone says “spam” before you answer. How AI spots suspect calls

Telecom companies in India are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to detect and label potential spam calls and messages. By analyzing calling trends, AI has already flagged billions of suspicious communications. Major players like Airtel and Vodafone Idea implement effective spam warnings for their users, while apps like Truecaller and Google’s Phone enhance caller identification capabilities. Meanwhile, TRAI mandates operators to responsibly investigate flagged spam incidents.

Beyond the SIM: Inside Jio and Airtel’s high-stakes AI pivot

Jio and Airtel are taking their rivalry beyond connectivity as both invest heavily in AI-ready data centres, cloud platforms, enterprise tools and consumer services. Their expanding ambitions reveal how India’s telecom giants are positioning themselves for the next phase of AI adoption, where infrastructure, subscriptions and digital services increasingly converge.

Trai mandates telcos to take action against spammers identified by their AI-based caller ID

Trai has tightened rules against spam calls, mandating telecom operators to act on callers flagged as suspected spammers by AI-based systems even without consumer complaints. Under the new rules, first-time violations can lead to a 15-day outgoing service ban, while repeat offenders may face disconnection of all telecom resources for a year and blacklisting. The rules also introduce changes to spam-call blocking preferences and A2P call charges.

OpenAI works to understand full scope of agent activity as user data leak emerges

OpenAI's ongoing battle also reflects a yawning gap between the strength of the models the company is testing and its capacity to oversee or even track their actions.

Government dissolves 37-year-old Digital Communications Commission with immediate effect

The government has notified the dissolution of the Digital Communications Commission, the Department of Telecommunications' apex decision-making body established in 1989. The commission handled key telecom policy and financial matters, including spectrum pricing and Trai recommendations. Its last meeting on September 3 finalised the satcom spectrum decision, which now awaits Cabinet approval.

Trai mandates AI-based spam detection, imposes charge on robocalls to curb unsolicited calls

Trai mandates telecom operators to use AI and machine learning for spam detection. A termination charge of ₹0.05 per minute is introduced for automated robocalls. Entities using application-to-person calls must pre-declare their usage with providers. Telecom operators must deploy AI/ML systems to detect and share spam intelligence. A consumer appeals mechanism and graded actions for violations are also introduced.

Trai tightens anti-spam rules, brings AI-based detection, automated calls under framework

India's telecom regulator has strengthened anti-spam rules significantly. New regulations now include AI detection for suspected spam numbers. Automated and robocalls face extended regulatory oversight and new deterrents. Call management apps must share spam data with telcos to offer reporting. Consumers retain the freedom to block or filter calls on their devices.

'CEA wants to talk with you': Startup founder surprised to get an invite from Finance Ministry to talk about his challenges and policy changes needed to grow businesses in India

Chandru Rajendran, founder of Procurio, received an email invite from India's Ministry of Finance saying the chief economic adviser wanted to speak with him personally. He initially mistook the mail for spam, then called a landline number listed in it and was invited to Delhi along with his team of economists to discuss the policy challenges young entrepreneurs face.

Trai moves to keep legit AI calls off spam list

Telecom regulator TRAI will soon introduce new rules for AI business calls. Businesses using automated systems must declare these calls to their service providers. This will help operators identify legitimate automated traffic on their networks. Registered telemarketers must use allocated numbering series for commercial communications. Any misuse of numbers will invite penal action from authorities.

Tired of spam calls? These changes by TRAI Will help solve your complaints faster

TRAI tightens rules to curb spams; fines on telcos for misreporting pesky calls, messages count

TRAI has introduced strict new rules against pesky calls and messages, imposing fines from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh on telecom companies for frequent and repeated violations. Telecom operators must now analyze call and SMS patterns to identify potential spammers and avoid penalties for misreporting spam counts.

War on spam: Airtel's network flags 8 bn spam calls in 2.5 months; identifies 1 mn spammers daily

Bharti Airtel's AI-powered network flagged 8 billion spam calls and 0.8 billion spam SMSes in 2.5 months. Delhi led in received and originated spam calls, while Gujarat topped SMS spam origination. The AI identified nearly 1 million spammers daily, with 35% using landlines. Spam calls peak between noon and 3 pm, decreasing 40% on Sundays.

Trai's spam call check: 50 entities blacklisted, 2.75 lakh numbers disconnected in two weeks

Telecom service providers have blacklisted over 50 entities and disconnected more than 2.75 lakh mobile numbers following TRAI's crackdown on spam calls and messages. The regulator issued directives to stop promotional calls from unregistered telemarketers, aiming to reduce spam and provide relief to consumers.

Battling the spam goliath: Inside Trai's plan to clamp down on unwanted calls, spammers

Trai's efforts to combat spam include implementing DLT, removing inactive headers, and AI-based scam detection. However, challenges such as evolving tactics and lack of adoption of the consent module remain. Trai aims to standardize procedures to reduce junk messages and pesky calls.

Nearly a million complaints regarding spam calls/messages logged in 2022

Last year, telcos disconnected 32, 032 numbers that were found in repeated violation of regulations regarding telemarketing, while more than 300, 000 connections were imposed with usage caps of 20 outgoing calls and messages a day and 409, 739 connections were issued warnings for violating regulations, Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan added.

How to block irritating marketing spam calls, activate Do Not Disturb (DND) on Jio, Airtel, Vi

Despite several measures by Trai in the past few years, the problem of pesky telemarketing calls and messages has remained as it is. Howevere, you can still block all telemarketing, promotional or spam messages and calls by activating DND on your number. Here is the step by step process to activate DND on your number.

'Jamtara Global': Indian WhatsApp users flooded with spam calls

These spam calls with international numbers, mostly from African and Southeast Asian countries, along with fake messages from unknown users, have flooded WhatsApp and Indians have nowhere to go but Twitter to share their ordeal.

Pesky callers are still big menace

The survey found that 78% of these calls related to selling financial services and real estate. Ironically, 92% of mobile users surveyed complained of being plagued by pesky calls night and day even after registering their mobile numbers on the Do Not Disturb (DND) list.