CCPA Tightens Screws on E-Commerce Platforms for Selling Illegal Walkie-Talkies
NEW DELHI: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has come down hard on 13 e-commerce platforms for illegally listing and selling walkie-talkies that operate on licensed frequency bands without proper approval.
These wireless devices, sold without Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing, can pose serious national security and public safety risks.
The platforms that received notices include some of the biggest names in online retail—Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, OLX, TradeIndia, Facebook, Indiamart, Jiomart, VardaanMart, Krishnamart, Chimiya, Talk Pro Walkie Talkie, and MaskMan Toys.
Preliminary checks showed hundreds of such unapproved listings—Amazon alone had 467, Flipkart 314, Meesho 489, and TradeIndia 423.
Many of these listings mislead buyers by not disclosing crucial information such as the frequency range, licensing requirements, or ETA certification.
The CCPA has demanded detailed responses from these platforms, including product links, seller details, proof of certification, and sales data since January 2023.
To plug the loopholes, the CCPA is preparing to roll out draft guidelines aimed at regulating the sale of such devices.
These rules will require platforms to vet listings more carefully, verify seller credentials, use automated systems to detect illegal products, and inform consumers clearly about the legal usage of wireless devices.
At a recent stakeholder meeting chaired by Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare, top platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Indiamart, and Meta were asked to take swift corrective action and ensure full compliance with laws like the Consumer Protection Act and Indian Telegraph Act.
This isn’t the first such crackdown—the CCPA had earlier forced e-commerce platforms to remove over 13,000 illegal listings of car seat belt alarm stoppers.
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