NEW DELHI: After cracking down on e-commerce platforms for selling walkie-talkies, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has now cracked down on an online list of anti-drone and anti-GPS devices and issued notices to six platforms and entities for allegedly selling restricted wireless transmission devices in violation of consumer protection and telecom laws.
Notices have been served on Everse, IndiaMART, Xboom, Javiat Aerospace, AirONE Robotics and Maveric Drones & Technologies Pvt Ltd for listing products such as “anti-drone systems”, “drone jammers” and “GPS jammers” which are subject to strict regulatory controls.
According to the CCPA notice, all entities were ordered to immediately stop listing and selling these restricted wireless transmission devices.
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In a statement issued on Friday, the authority said that signal jamming equipment is regulated under the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933 and requires prior licensing and approval from the Department of Telecommunications and the Department of Wireless Planning and Coordination. Imports are governed by the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and related notifications of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Such equipment is usually only authorized for authorized government agencies and law enforcement agencies, subject to legal authorizations, he added.
Separately, Nidhi Khare, secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, told Mint: “We have seriously noticed the online listing and sale of restricted wireless transmission devices such as drone jammers and GPS jammers.”
“The online availability of a regulated jamming device without mandatory disclosure is a matter of concern. Such devices are not intended for civilian use and require special legal permissions,” Khare said.
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“We have asked the relevant platforms to immediately remove these listings and provide full compliance information. Consumer protection laws will be strictly enforced wherever misleading listings or unfair business practices are found,” the secretary added.
Inquiries sent Friday to all the companies mentioned in the story were not immediately returned.
Regulatory control
The CCPA said the devices were listed online without disclosing mandatory licensing requirements, valid device type approval details or Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) certification, and without making it clear that possession and use by civilians without permission is prohibited. The listings were presented in a way that could mislead consumers into believing that the products were over the counter.
The omission of material information about legal restrictions and legal consequences constitutes prima facie false advertising and unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act 2019, the authority said.
The regulator directed the six entities to provide details of source of purchase or import, copies of import licenses and invoices, regulatory approvals obtained from WPC Wing, Department of Telecommunications, DGFT, Cabinet Secretariat or Ministry of Home Affairs and the legal basis for offering such equipment for commercial sale.
It also requested data on the number of units sold over the past two years, data on buyers, information on third-party sellers listing similar products and steps taken to end these offers and prevent recurrence.
National security experts have said the open online sale of drones and GPS jammers poses risks beyond regulatory violations
“These devices can disrupt communications networks, aviation systems and critical infrastructure if they fall into the wrong hands. Strict control over their sale and clear accountability of online platforms are essential to prevent misuse and protect national security,” said Amit Singh, Associate Professor, Special Center for National Security Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020, marketplace entities are required to exercise due diligence and ensure compliance with applicable laws. The authority warned that facilitating the sale of restricted jamming equipment without verifying legal authorization could have criminal consequences under telecommunications and foreign trade laws.
Earlier on January 15, the CCPA slapped Flipkart, Meta Platforms and Amazon with fines of Rs ₹10,00,000 each for allowing radios to be sold and promoted on their platforms without mandatory regulatory information and approvals. The penalties followed a similar action against Meesho, who was fined ₹10 lakh on December 4 for unauthorized radio listings. The authority also imposed sanctions ₹1,00,000 each on Reliance JioMart, Talk Pro (Iconet Services Pvt. Ltd), The MaskMan Toys and Chimiya for selling such devices without required permissions.