Privacy concerns shroud Trai’s proposal to regulate OTT platforms

The pivot struck by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) last Friday, when it released a discussion paper proposing regulation of social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Google Meet and Telegram, has predictably evoked a mixed reaction. On one hand it is being cheered by telecom operators who have been lobbying for a level playing field – “same service, same rules”. On the other hand, serious concerns are being raised on privacy invasion and net neutrality.

Over the past 10 years, telecom operators saw revenues from voice calls decline 94 per cent and from SMS fall 80 per cent as internet-based calling and messaging services offered by these platforms found favour.