The authority flagged platforms including Amazon, Flipkart for allowing listings that fail to mention mandatory frequency range, licensing obligations, or valid Equipment Type Approval (ETA)
In a move directed at safeguarding consumer rights and curbing illegal sales of wireless devices, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has served notices to thirteen major Ecommerce and digital marketplaces for listing and selling walkie-talkies without appropriate regulatory disclosures.
The CCPA flagged platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, OLX, TradeIndia, Facebook, Indiamart, VardaanMart, Jiomart, Krishnamart, Chimiya, Talk Pro Walkie Talkie, and MaskMan Toys for allowing listings that fail to mention mandatory frequency range, licensing obligations, or valid Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing.
According to the Authority, these omissions constitute a breach of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the Consumer Protection (Ecommerce) Rules, 2020, which require clear and accessible product information to enable informed consumer decisions.
Walkie-talkies sold on these platforms often omit crucial details—such as whether a wireless operating licence is required, the frequency spectrum they use, or their compliance with the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933. This misleading presentation could result in consumers inadvertently using equipment that is illegal or requires government authorisation.
A preliminary investigation uncovered a significant number of such non-compliant listings: approximately 467 on Amazon, 314 on Flipkart, 489 on Meesho, and 423 on TradeIndia. In light of this, the CCPA has demanded detailed data from each platform, including seller contact details, listing IDs, URLs, frequency specifications, ETA/WPC certifications, and sales figures from January 2023 onwards.
“The scale of non-compliance is alarming and highlights a pressing need for regulatory oversight,” the Authority stated. It added that the draft Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Sale and Use of Licensed Frequency Range Wireless Telegraphy Apparatus, including Walkie-Talkies on Ecommerce Platforms, 2025, will soon be made public for stakeholder feedback.
These guidelines—framed under Section 18(2)(l) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019—seek to mandate platform-level due diligence before listing products, require verification of seller credentials and Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certification, enable automatic monitoring and prompt takedown of unauthorised listings, enhance consumer awareness through clear and mandatory disclosures, and impose platform liability along with penalties for non-compliance.
To ensure widespread understanding of the rules, the Department of Consumer Affairs convened a stakeholder consultation on 3 May 2025, chaired by Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs. Representatives from Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Indiamart, and Meta attended the session, where they were reminded of their legal responsibility to monitor, verify, and delist products that violate Indian laws.
The CCPA has also reached out to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Telecommunications for further input in finalising the guidelines.
This latest action follows a similar crackdown in 2023, when the CCPA ordered the delisting of over 13,000 listings for illegal motor vehicle components such as seat belt alarm stoppers. The authority reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a fair and transparent digital marketplace and warned of stricter enforcement measures if platforms fail to comply.
“Ecommerce platforms must ensure that consumers are not misled into purchasing illegal or potentially harmful products. Transparency, verification, and proactive monitoring are essential to maintain trust and compliance in the digital economy,” the CCPA said.
