TRAI
Issues Directions to Access Providers to Stop Misuse of Message Templates under
TCCCPR-2018
Unsolicited Commercial Communication
(UCC) is a major source of inconvenience to the public and impinges on the privacy
of individuals and TRAI has been taking various steps to curb it. On 12 May, 2023,
TRAI has issued a Direction to stop misuse of message templates, under Telecom Commercial
Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR-2018). This is in continuation
of its earlier Direction dated February 16, 2023 to stop misuse of Headers and Message
Templates.
The TRAI has directed all the
Access Providers that the use of more than three variable parts in the contents
shall be permitted only with proper justification and additional checks. It has
mandated that Access Providers shall have to designate a separate approving authority
for such content templates. Each variable part needs to be pre-tagged for the purpose
it is proposed to be used and minimum thirty percentage of message should comprise
of fixed part so that intent of the original message, for which the content template
was approved, is not changed by the intermediaries. It has also been decided that
only whitelisted URLs/Apks/OTT links/call back numbers
shall be allowed in the content template.
All the Telecom Service Providers
have been directed to furnish compliance report of the above direction within 45
days.