Use AI To Detect And Block Spam: TRAI Asks Indian Telecom Companies To Act Against Unsolicited Communication

India's telecommunications regulator has asked all service providers in the country to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) based systems to act against pesky spam texts. The "UCC Detect System" has still not been adopted by some telecom service providers.

The Telecom Regulatory Association of India (TRAI) has asked all telcos operational in India to use AI and ML to detect, identify, and act against errant commercial communication service providers. Let's look at the latest directive which might help the end users.

TRAI Asks Telcos To Take Stricter Action On Unlawful Commercial Communication

Telecom regulator TRAI has directed all telcos to deploy AI and ML-based systems to detect, identify, and act against senders of commercial communication who are not registered in accordance with regulations.

TRAI explained that the entities who do not get registered with the access providers, and use ten digits mobile numbers for sending commercial communications through messages or calls are called Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs). Telcos will have to deploy a system which is collectively called UCC (Unsolicited Commercial Communication) Detect system.

"At times these Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs) through messages having fraudulent links and telephone numbers trap the customers into sharing of their critical information causing financial loss to the customers."

TRAI Has Been Trying To Get Telcos To Adopt The UCC Detect System

TRAI has been pushing Telcos and Access Service Providers to adopt and implement the UCC Detect System. The regulator assures this system has requisite functionalities within the framework of TRAI's Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018.

Telcos, on the other hand, have implemented customized detection systems, "as per their suitability and feasibility." Needless to say, these systems aren't capable of arresting the steady flow of unsolicited commercial messages, especially from unregistered entities and private numbers.

"UTMs are continuously evolving new techniques to send unsolicited communications and the current UCC detect systems deployed by the Access Service providers are not fully capable to detect such UCC," lamented the TRAI.

Hence, the regulator has directed all access providers to deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-based UCC Detect systems. TRAI is confident these systems would steadily learn and evolve by looking for patterns, signature approaches, and techniques used by Unregistered Telemarketers.

TRAI has also asked telcos to share intelligence with their competitors using Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform. It is not clear if telcos will agree to all of the recommendations as it might involve divulging sensitive or confidential information.