SPAM DETECTION
India notifies new telecom rules that allow time-bound exemptions to test emerging technologies
The Indian government has introduced new rules to facilitate the testing of telecommunication technologies in controlled environments. These rules provide exemptions from certain regulatory requirements under existing laws aimed at fostering innovation. Regulatory sandboxes will allow for trial of new services under specified conditions before commercial deployment. The government will oversee eligibility criteria and risk management measures for participants.
Anthropic’s Claude went rogue, submitted fake tip to police in unsolved murder among several other incidents
In a baffling incident from July 2026, Anthropic's AI model Claude sent a bogus tip concerning an unsolved homicide to the Philadelphia police. This breach went unnoticed until September. Upon realization, Anthropic alerted law enforcement after identifying the issue as spam. The company is now working on adjustments to its training process to mitigate similar incidents of rogue AI behavior in the future.
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.
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.
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.
- Go To Page 1
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.
Telecom operators flag 24.4 billion spam calls, messages in April-June: TRAI
Telecom operators flagged 24.4 billion calls and messages as suspected spam during April-June. AI systems identified 22.9 billion calls and 1.4 billion SMSes as unsolicited communications. Consumer complaints rose significantly, with 10.8 lakh received during the quarter. Most complaints were filed through the Do Not Disturb app.
1.48 billion promotional 140-series calls blocked in Q1 after DND preference checks: TRAI report
TRAI reported 13.16 billion promotional calls originated via the 140 series. About 1.48 billion promotional calls were blocked after verification. Commercial SMS reached 248.06 billion, with 7.30 billion promotional SMS blocked. AI spam detection flagged 24.43 billion suspected calls and SMS. Action was taken against 183,000 telecom resources and 263 senders.
IAMAI alleges Trai attempts to regulate OTT platforms
Industry body IAMAI claims Trai is overstepping its bounds. Proposed rules for spam calls may unfairly target over-the-top platforms like WhatsApp. IAMAI argues these platforms are not telecommunication services. They also state that forcing data sharing is unconstitutional. This move raises significant jurisdictional concerns for digital platforms.
TRAI proposes AI tools to detect & block spam calls, messages
Telecom regulator TRAI is proposing new rules. Telecom companies will soon be allowed to use AI tools. These tools will help detect and block unwanted spam calls and messages. Businesses sending commercial communications will face stricter checks. The aim is to combat evolving spam tactics. This update will bring regulations in line with new technologies.
AI-based spam data must be shared in hours, Trai to telcos
Telecom regulator Trai has mandated mobile operators to share data from their AI spam detection systems. This information will be shared on a blockchain platform within hours. Operators must now act against spammers proactively, even without user complaints. This move aims to curb unsolicited commercial communication effectively.
TRAI Chief Anil Lahoti pushes for TV Rating reform and AI-driven spam protection to boost credibility
TRAI Chairperson Anil Kumar Lahoti announced that the regulator is advocating a shift to a competitive, multi-agency model to improve transparency and accuracy in TV ratings, moving away from its single-agency model for TV audience measurement.
Truecaller does not make users' contact list public, says company's CEO Rishit Jhunjhunwala
Truecaller CEO Rishit Jhunjhunwala clarified that the app never uploads or makes users’ contact lists public, stressing its business model relies on subscriptions and ads, not data misuse. He said the platform only processes minimal data and gives users control over their identity.
Airtel's anti-fraud measures cut customer financial losses by nearly 70%
Bharti Airtel has reported a significant decrease in cybercrime complaints due to its anti-fraud initiatives, as confirmed by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The MHA-I4C found a 687.7% decrease in financial losses and a 14.3% drop in overall cybercrime incidents on the Airtel network.
Tanla Platforms wins Indonesia deal for AI check on spam messages
Tanla Platforms has secured a multi-year deal with Indonesia's Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison to implement its AI-powered anti-spam platform. This marks Tanla's first major international expansion of its security technology. The platform, utilising machine learning and generative AI, aims to combat fraudulent activities across SMS, voice, and VoIP channels, protecting millions of Indonesian telecom users from cyberattacks.
Airtel expands alert coverage to int'l calls, SMS to combat rising overseas spams, fraud calls
Bharti Airtel has introduced new features to combat spam, including expanded detection for international calls and SMS, addressing a 12% rise in overseas spam attempts. The company's AI-powered tool now screens international spam and provides alerts in ten Indian languages. These enhancements aim to nullify fraudulent calls and SMS messages, automatically activating for all Airtel customers on Android devices.
Trai to roll out user-friendly DND app to combat spam menace
"The intention is to make it user-friendly... the experience should be good, and it should become the preferred app for DND registration," Trai chairman AK Lahoti said, adding that additional functionalities that can be built in, such as reporting and blocking spam calls, need to be examined.
AI on spam: How Airtel detects 8 billion spam calls in 2.5 months
The telecom operator said it spotted a million spammers a day and that its spam tracking solution led to a 12% fall in answered spam calls. Mobile phone users in Delhi got spammed the most, it said, while those in Gujarat received the highest number of spam text messages.
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.
Vi deploys AI-based spam detection solution
Vodafone Idea has implemented an AI-based solution to identify and flag spam messages for its users. The system has already flagged over 24 million spam messages. It aims to protect customers from potential scam attempts by learning from patterns in data. Bharti Airtel also launched a similar solution to detect spam messages and calls earlier.
Airtel launches India's first Al-powered network solution for spam detection
Airtel has introduced India's first AI-powered spam detection solution to combat spam calls and messages. This network-based tool alerts customers in real-time about suspected spam without requiring any action from them. The dual-layer protection system processes billions of calls and messages daily, ensuring enhanced security for Airtel users.
Google develops AI-powered spam detection to make Gmail safer
Google has developed an AI-powered spam detection system that can help spot "adversarial text manipulations" like emails with special characters, emojis, typos and other characters that easily bypassed Gmail defenses.
Trai directs telcos to check spam calls, texts using AI/ ML
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) wants telcos to use cutting edge tech tools around AI/ML to counter UTMs, especially as the latter are constantly evolving new ways to bombard mobile users with pesky commercial calls and text messages.
Google gets poll panel nod to keep politician emails out of spam in US
Google will now allow candidates and political party committees to apply for its programme that would make their messages exempt from Gmail's spam detection systems, reports The Verge.
Google is building the ultimate spam-killing AI
Google engineers have cooked up a new way for Gmail spam filters to learn what mail you want and what you don't. It involves 'large scale brain simulations'.
Indian cyberspace hit by Kim Jong-II malware mails: IT sleuths
Indian computer security analysts have detected and alerted internet users against "malicious spam mails" in the name of dead North Korean leader Kim Jong-II.
Cybercriminals in India creating botnets to capture PCs
Cybercriminals in India are increasingly looking at creating botnets, network of computers aimed at attacking and 'capturing' PCs to spread viruses through them to other systems, a Microsoft report said today
Load More
