TIL CreativesThe Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued 13 notices to various online marketplaces, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, and OLX, for listing and selling walkie-talkies that are violating the protection act on their platforms.
The other platforms that were issued notices include TradeIndia, Facebook, Indiamart, VardaanMart, Jiomart, Krishnamart, Chimiya, TalkPro Walkie Talkie and MaskMan toys.
According to the authority, walkie-talkies are being sold on ecommerce platforms without mandatory and clear disclosures about the need for a wireless operating license, the specific frequency range, or adherence to relevant laws. This, it added, violates the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Under the Consumer Protection Rules, 2020, ecommerce platforms are required to provide clear and accessible information to help consumers make informed choices before making a purchase.
“The omission of details such as frequency range, licensing obligations under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, or 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 and the potential legal consequences of unauthorised use, misleads consumers into believing that the devices are freely operable by the general public,” the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, said in a release.
A preliminary analysis by the authority showed around 467 listings on Amazon, 314 on Flipkart, 489 on Meesho, and 423 on TradeIndia for such walkie-talkies.
This development comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, as the Indian government ramps up security following cross-border shelling in several border areas, including Jammu.
The authority has sought information from these platforms, including the names and contact details of each seller, product URLs and listing IDs for the walkie-talkie devices, information on frequency specifications and any licensing details shown on the listings, as well as the number of units sold per listing from January 2023 till now.
#Operation Sindoor
According to the authority, walkie-talkies are being sold on ecommerce platforms without mandatory and clear disclosures about the need for a wireless operating license, the specific frequency range, or adherence to relevant laws. This, it added, violates the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Under the Consumer Protection Rules, 2020, ecommerce platforms are required to provide clear and accessible information to help consumers make informed choices before making a purchase.
“The omission of details such as frequency range, licensing obligations under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, or 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 and the potential legal consequences of unauthorised use, misleads consumers into believing that the devices are freely operable by the general public,” the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, said in a release.
A preliminary analysis by the authority showed around 467 listings on Amazon, 314 on Flipkart, 489 on Meesho, and 423 on TradeIndia for such walkie-talkies.
Discover the stories of your interest
This development comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, as the Indian government ramps up security following cross-border shelling in several border areas, including Jammu.
The authority has sought information from these platforms, including the names and contact details of each seller, product URLs and listing IDs for the walkie-talkie devices, information on frequency specifications and any licensing details shown on the listings, as well as the number of units sold per listing from January 2023 till now.
ETPrime Membership
