The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued 13 notices to leading e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, OLX, TradeIndia, Facebook, Indiamart, VardaanMart, Jiomart, Krishnamart, Chimiya, Talk Pro Walkie Talkie, and MaskMan Toys, over the illegal sale of walkie-talkies without proper frequency disclosure or licensing requirements.
The CCPA found that these platforms were listing wireless devices without valid Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) Wing and failing to inform consumers about mandatory licenses under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933.
The omission of frequency range details and licensing obligations misled consumers into believing such devices were freely operable by the public.
Moreover, the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 require marketplace platforms to provide accurate, transparent product information to enable informed consumer decisions. The CCPA’s preliminary analysis found alarming numbers of such listings:
- 467 on Amazon
- 314 on Flipkart
- 489 on Meesho
- 423 on TradeIndia
To tackle the issue, the CCPA has demanded comprehensive data from these e-commerce entities, including seller details, product URLs, frequency specifications, licensing information, and sales figures from January 2023 to date.
Additionally, the Draft Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Sale and Use of Licensed Frequency Range Wireless Telegraphy Apparatus will soon be published for public feedback. These guidelines seek to:
✅ Ensure due diligence by platforms before listing restricted products
✅ Mandate seller verification and certification checks
✅ Introduce automated monitoring and takedown mechanisms for unauthorized listings
✅ Promote consumer awareness through proper disclosures
✅ Enforce penalties on non-compliant sellers and platforms
In a stakeholder consultation meeting on May 3, 2025, chaired by Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, representatives from Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, IndiaMart, and Meta were urged to proactively monitor their listings and immediately delist unauthorised sellers.
The CCPA has historically taken strict action against illegal listings, including its intervention in the sale of car seat belt alarm stopper clips, which led to the removal of 13,118 listings across platforms.
With this latest enforcement, the CCPA reaffirms its commitment to consumer protection, ensuring that online marketplaces adhere to legal standards and prevent misleading sales practices.
