India mandates caller-ID apps share spam reports with telecom operators
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has amended rules to require call-blocking and caller-ID applications, such as Truecaller, to submit user-generated spam reports to a blockchain-based platform managed by telecom operators. The move aims to enhance the enforcement infrastructure against spam calls in India, where fraudulent communications are rampant. TRAI argues that this will improve data sharing between apps and telcos for better anti-spam action. Truecaller has criticized the rule as anti-competitive, claiming it allows telecom companies to access valuable user data without reciprocal benefits. The company is a major player in India's market with over 350 million monthly active users there. Truecaller reported that Indian users faced around 42 billion spam calls in 2025 and blocked nearly 12 billion of them. The regulation also maintains previous restrictions preventing apps from automatically labeling or blocking certain government-designated number ranges used for promotional communications, a policy Truecaller has previously opposed.
Topics: anti-spam regulations caller ID apps competition law data sharing