India government deactivates 8.5 million mobile connections to combat cybercrimes
What's the story
As part of its efforts to tackle fraud and improve telecom security, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has deactivated over 85 lakh mobile connections. Most of these disconnections, around 78.33 lakh, were on account of fake documents. Another 6.78 lakh connections were linked to cybercrime activities. The move came after an analysis with an artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool developed by the DoT.
Regulatory update
DoT introduces new KYC guidelines for telecom providers
The DoT has also issued new guidelines to bolster the Know Your Customer (KYC) framework for telecom service providers. These rules require the registration of all Points of Sale (PoS), including franchisees, distributors, and agents issuing SIM cards. This is to ensure that customer enrollment is secure and transparent. Now, telecom companies will have to verify each PoS through biometric verification and physical address checks.
Enforcement measures
Strict verification and penalties for non-compliance
In some areas such as Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and North Eastern License Service Areas (LSAs), PoS must undergo police verification. These points must also sign inter-service agreements detailing their duties and penalties for non-compliance. If a PoS is found involved in fraud, they will be blacklisted across all telcos and subscribers enrolled by them will be re-verified. PoS enrolling customers without registration after January 31, 2025, will be fined ₹10 lakh per instance.
Policy changes
DoT discontinues bulk connections, mandates individual KYC verification
The DoT has scrapped the bulk connections framework and launched a business connections framework that mandates individual KYC verification of every end-user before activation. A stricter process has been introduced for SIM swap or replacement requests. Paper-based KYC processes have been done away with from January 1, 2024. Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, shared these changes in Lok Sabha today.