In an important move aimed at tackling spam and fraud calls, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has instructed telecom operators, including major players like Jio, Airtel, and Vi, to implement the Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) feature. This feature shows the caller’s registered name on the recipient’s phone, eliminating the need for apps like Truecaller.
What Is CNAP and Why It Matters?
The CNAP feature is designed to verify caller identities, which helps recipients distinguish between legitimate calls and spam or fraudulent ones. With spam calls becoming an increasing nuisance to mobile users across India, this feature aims to provide a solution by allowing users to see the caller’s registered name directly on their phone without relying on external apps. This is expected to reduce the frequency of fraudulent calls and enhance the caller identification process.
Collaboration Between Telecom Operators and Global Tech Companies
Telecom giants like Vodafone Idea Ltd, Bharti Airtel Ltd, and Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd are working closely with global technology companies such as HP, Dell, Ericsson, and Nokia. Together, they are developing the necessary infrastructure, servers, and software required to roll out the CNAP feature successfully. Equipment for trials has already been ordered, and initial tests have been carried out in select circles. The feature will be rolled out in stages once the technology is fully operational and stable.
A Step Toward Reducing Harassment from Spam Calls
TRAI’s initiative has been driven by the growing issue of spam calls that disturb and harass mobile users. In February 2024, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had recommended that CNAP be implemented across all smartphones. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) followed up by urging telecom operators to prioritize the rollout of this feature. The Department aims to help users identify callers and protect them from unsolicited, potentially harmful calls.
Data Privacy Implications and the Role of DPDPA
While the CNAP feature aims to make caller identification more transparent, it also raises important data privacy considerations. Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), personal data must be processed with strict adherence to privacy principles. The CNAP feature will involve the processing of personal information – specifically, phone numbers and the associated names of callers. As the telecom operators roll out CNAP, they will need to ensure that they are fully compliant with DPDPA provisions, especially in terms of data minimization, consent, and transparency.
The DPDPA mandates that personal data must be processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently. Telecom operators must ensure caller information display on CNAP devices complies with consent and purpose limitation principles under the DPDP Act. Telecom companies must also ensure that users’ consent is obtained for their data to be shared with third-party platforms, such as the telecom operators and the backend servers that support CNAP.
The Impact of CNAP on Privacy Protection
The introduction of CNAP could enhance user control over their data, allowing recipients to identify and reject unwanted or potentially harmful calls. This directly aligns with the principles of privacy by design and default promoted by the DPDPA. However, it is essential that telecom operators, when implementing CNAP, ensure that they are not disclosing or using unnecessary personal information beyond what is required for the feature’s functionality. They must also put in place stringent data security measures to prevent misuse or unauthorized access to users’ data, as part of their obligations under the DPDP Act.
Moreover, telecom operators must provide clear information to customers about how their data will be used, stored, and protected. Transparency will be key to ensuring DPDPA compliance and addressing privacy concerns as CNAP is implemented.
Full Rollout and Government Support for CNAP
TRAI has urged the government to expedite CNAP’s nationwide rollout, although the exact date is yet to be confirmed. The goal is to make Telecom operators ensure the caller’s name appears on the recipient’s screen as quickly as possible. This measure aims to reduce spam, enhance caller identification transparency, and improve the overall user experience.
The CNAP feature will simplify mobile use in India, reducing reliance on third-party apps and addressing common irritants. By reducing the number of fraudulent calls, it will significantly improve the overall telecommunications experience.
Balancing Convenience with Data Privacy
The CNAP feature represents a significant step toward addressing the growing issue of spam calls in India. However, it also presents a unique opportunity to ensure that data privacy is maintained throughout the process. By implementing privacy safeguards and following DPDPA provisions, telecom operators can improve transparency and user control over data. As India strengthens data protection regulations, the CNAP feature could serve as a model for privacy-conscious technologies.
Source: The Sentinel
