#FactCheck – Debunked: Dhoni's Viral Picture Misinterpreted as Political Support

Introduction

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), on March 13 2023, published a new rule to regulate telemarketing firms. Trai has demonstrated strictness when it comes to bombarding users with intrusive marketing pitches. In a report, TRAI stated that 10-digit mobile numbers could not be utilised for advertising. In reality, different phone numbers are given out for regular calls and telemarketing calls. Hence, it is an appropriate and much-required move in order to suppress and eradicate phishing scammers and secure the Indian Cyber-ecosystem at large.

What are the new rules?

The rules state that now 10-digit unregistered mobile numbers for promotional purposes would be shut down over the following five days. The rule claim that calling from unregistered mobile numbers had been banned was published on February 16. In this case, using 10-digit promotional messages for promotional calling will end within the following five days. This step by TRAI has been seen after nearly 6-8 months of releasing the Telecommunication Bill, 2022, which has focused towards creating a stable Indian Telecom market and reducing the phoney calls/messages by bad actors to reduce cyber crimes like phishing. This is done to distinguish between legitimate and promotional calls. According to certain reports, some telecom firms allegedly break the law by using 10-digit mobile numbers to make unwanted calls and send promotional messages. All telecom service providers must execute the requirements under the recent TRAI directive within five days.

How will the new rules help?

The promotional use of a cellphone number with 10 digits was allowed since the start, however, with the latest NCRB report on cyber crimes and the rising instances and reporting of cyber crimes primarily focused towards frauds related to monetary gains by the bad actors points to the issue of unregulated promotional messages. This move will act as a critical step towards eradicating scammers from the cyber-ecosystem, TRAI has been very critical in understanding the dynamics and shortcomings in the regulation of the telecom spectrum and network in India and has shown keen interest towards suppressing the modes of technology used by the scammers. It is a fact that the invention of the technology does not define its use, the policy of the technology does, hence it is important to draft ad enact policies which better regulate the existing and emerging technologies.

What to avoid?

In pursuance of the rules enacted by TRAI, the business owners involved in promotional services through 10-digit numbers will have to follow these steps-

• It is against the law to utilise a 10-digit cellphone number for promotional calls.
• You should stop doing so right now.
• Your mobile number will be blocked in the following five days if not.
• Users employed by telemarketing firms are encouraged to refrain from using the system in such circumstances.
• Those working for telemarketing firms are encouraged not to call from their mobile numbers.
• Users should phone the company’s registered mobile number for promotional purposes.

Conclusion

The Indian netizen has been exposed to the technology a little later than the western world. However, this changed drastically during the Covid-19 pandemic as the internet and technology penetration rates increased exponentially in just a couple of months. Although this has been used as an advantage by the bad actors, it was pertinent for the government and its institutions to take an effective and efficient step to safeguard the people from financial fraud. Although these frauds occur in high numbers due to a lack of knowledge and awareness, we need to work on preventive solutions rather than precautionary steps and the new rules by TRAI point towards a safe, secured and sustainable future of cyberspace in India.

Introduction

Recently the Indian Government banned the import of Laptops and tablets in India under the computers of HSN 8471. According to the notification of the government, Directorate General of foreign trade, there will be restrictions on the import of Laptops, tablets, and other electronic items from 1^st November 2023. The government advised the Domestic companies to apply for the license within three months. As the process is simple, and many local companies have already applied for the license. The government will require a valid license for the import of laptops and other electronic items.

The Government imposed restrictions on the Import of Laptops & other electronic products

The DGFT (The directorate General of foreign trade) imposed restrictions on the import of electronic items in India. And, there has been the final date has also been given that the companies only have 3 months to apply for a valid license, from November 1^st 2023there will be a requirement for a valid license for the import, and there will be a proper ban on the import of laptops & tablets, and other electronic items. The ban is on the HSN-8471. These are the products that indicate that they are taxable. It is a classification code to identify the taxable items. India has sufficient capacity and capability to manufacture their own IT hardware devices and boost production.

The government has notified production linked incentive, PLI Scheme 2.0, for the IT devices, which will soon be disclosed, and the scheme is expected to lead to a total of 29 thousand crore rupees worth of IT hardware nearly. And this will create future job opportunities in the five to six years.

The pros & cons of the import

Banning import has two sides. The positive one is that, it will promote the domestic manufacturers, local companies will able to grow, and there will be job opportunities, but if we talk about the negative side of the import, then the prices will be high for the consumers. One aspect is making India’s digital infrastructure stable, and the other side is affecting consumers.

Reasons Behind the ban on the Import of electronic items

There are the following reasons behind the ban on the Import of laptops and tablets,

• The primary reason why the government banned the import of laptops and other electronic items is because of security concerns about the data. And to prevent data theft a step has been taken by the Government.
• The banning will help the domestic manufacturer to grow and will provide opportunities to the local companies in India.
• It will help in the creation of Job vacancies in the country.
• There will be a curb down of selling of Chinese products.

The government will promote the digital infrastructure of India by putting a ban on imports. Such as there are domestic companies like Reliance recently launched a laptop by the name of Jio Book, and there is a company that sells the cheapest tablet called Aakash, so the import ban will promote these types of electronic items of the local companies. This step will soon result in digital advancement in India.

Conclusion

The laptop, tablets, and other electronic products that have been banned in India will make a substantial move with the implications. The objective of the ban is to encourage domestic manufacturing and to secure the data, however, it will also affect the consumers which can not be ignored. The other future effects are yet to be seen. But the one scenario is clear, that the policy will significantly make a change in India’s Technology industry.

Introduction

THE DIGITAL PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION BILL, 2022 Released for Public Consultation on November 18, 2022THE DIGITAL PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION BILL, 2023Tabled at LokSabha on August 03. 2023Personal data may be processed only for a lawful purpose for which an individual has given consent.  Consent may be deemed in certain cases.The 2023 bill imposes reasonable obligations on data fiduciaries and data processors to safeguard digital personal data.There is a Data Protection Board under the 2022 bill to deal with the non-compliance of the Act.Under the 2023 bill, there is the Establishment of a new Data Protection Board which will ensure compliance, remedies and penalties.

Under the new bill, the Board has been entrusted with the power of a civil court, such as the power to take cognisance in response to personal data breaches, investigate complaints,  imposing penalties. Additionally, the Board can issue directions to ensure compliance with the act.The 2022 Bill grants certain rights to individuals, such as the right to obtain information, seek correction and erasure, and grievance redressal.The 2023 bill also grants More Rights to Individuals and establishes a balance between user protection and growing innovations. The bill creates a transparent and accountable data governance framework by giving more rights to individuals. In the 2023 bill, there is an Incorporation of Business-friendly provisions by removing criminal penalties for non-compliance and facilitating international data transfers.  

‍The new 2023 bill balances out fundamental privacy rights and puts reasonable limitations on those rights.Under the 2022 bill, Personal data can be processed for a lawful purpose for which an individual has given his consent.  And there was a concept of deemed consent.The new data protection board will carefully examine the instance of non-compliance by imposing penalties on non-compiler.The bill does not provide any express clarity in regards to compensation to be granted to the Data Principal in case of a Data Breach.Under 2023 Deemed consent is there in its new form as ‘Legitimate Users’.The 2022 bill allowed the transfer of personal data to locations notified by the government.There is an introduction of the negative list, which restricts cross-data transfer.