Consumer Watchdog Cracks Down on Illegal Walkie-Talkie Sales Online
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken strong action against e-commerce platforms for selling unauthorized walkie-talkies. The authority issued final orders against eight entities and imposed total penalties of ₹44 lakh. This move comes after the CCPA identified serious violations of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and existing telecom regulations.
Major Platforms Face Heavy Penalties
The consumer protection body issued notices to thirteen e-commerce entities. These included prominent names like Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, and Meta Platforms Inc. which operates Facebook Marketplace. The CCPA discovered more than 16,970 non-compliant product listings across these platforms during its investigation.
Nidhi Khare, Consumer Affairs Secretary, revealed the penalty details to PTI. The authority imposed penalties of ₹10 lakh each on Meesho, Meta Platforms Inc., Flipkart, and Amazon. Four other platforms – Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro, and MaskMan Toys – received penalties of ₹1 lakh each.
"These penalties address violations of consumer rights, misleading advertisements, and unfair trade practices," Khare explained. She confirmed that Meesho, Meta, Chimiya, JioMart, and Talk Pro have already paid their penalties. Payment from the remaining platforms is still pending.
Serious Regulatory Violations Uncovered
The CCPA investigation revealed that platforms were facilitating the sale of Personal Mobile Radios (PMRs) operating outside the license-exempt frequency band. These devices lacked mandatory Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certification. Platforms also failed to provide proper disclosure of licensing requirements to consumers.
Current regulations allow license exemption only for PMRs operating strictly in the 446.0-446.2 MHz band. Rule 5 of the Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices Rules, 2018 clearly states that manufacturers and sellers must obtain ETA before importing, selling, or operating such devices.
Platform-Specific Violations Detailed
The scale of violations varied significantly across different platforms:
- Flipkart sold 65,931 units where the frequency range was either left blank or fell outside the exempted range. Another 42,275 units were sold with correct frequency disclosure.
- Amazon sold 2,602 units between January 2023 and May 2025. Among these, 467 product listings lacked proper frequency or certification details.
- Meesho recorded sales of 2,209 units by a single seller alone. Numerous listings failed to disclose ETA certification or frequency specifications.
- JioMart sold 58 units over two years without clear licensing requirement disclosures.
- Facebook Marketplace had 710 listings delisted following CCPA intervention. The platform listed walkie-talkies without disclosure of licensing requirements, frequency specifications, or ETA/WPC certification.
Despite removing some listings after receiving notices, Facebook Marketplace continued to facilitate repeated listing of regulated devices without adequate preventive safeguards.
Misleading Claims and False Advertising
Talk Pro, operated by Iconet Services Pvt Ltd, was found listing devices operating across UHF 400-1200 MHz while falsely claiming they were "100 per cent legal" and "license-free." The platform also made misleading claims about operational ranges of these devices.
Chimiya offered walkie-talkies operating in the UHF 400-470 MHz band, which falls outside the permitted spectrum. These devices were imported from overseas without mandatory approvals.
Intermediary Defense Rejected by Authority
Several platforms attempted to invoke intermediary status to avoid responsibility for third-party listings. The CCPA firmly rejected this defense. The authority held that platforms facilitating listing, hosting, discovery, and promotion of regulated products cannot be treated as passive conduits.
"Intermediary protections are conditional upon the exercise of effective due diligence," the authority stated. "These protections do not extend to situations where platforms permit products to be listed or advertised without mandatory statutory disclosures."
The CCPA emphasized that platforms must exercise due diligence commensurate with their scale and technological capability.
New Guidelines and Security Concerns
To strengthen platform accountability, the CCPA has notified new guidelines titled "Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment including Walkie-Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025." These guidelines were developed in consultation with the Department of Telecommunications and Ministry of Home Affairs.
The new rules mandate verification of frequency compliance and ETA certification prior to listing. They require full disclosure of licensing requirements and prohibit misleading advertisements. Platforms must deploy automated monitoring and takedown mechanisms to prevent illegal sales.
The CCPA directed major e-commerce platforms to undertake self-audits. These audits should ensure that violations through deceptive listings are not prevalent. Platforms must publish audit certificates online and strengthen pre-listing compliance mechanisms. The goal is to ensure no radio equipment requiring statutory approval gets listed without full legal compliance.
National Security Implications
The CCPA issued a serious warning about security concerns. Unauthorized radio communication devices can cause harmful interference with critical national communication networks. These include networks used by law enforcement agencies, disaster response authorities, and emergency services.
"Such interference can disrupt essential operations and compromise communications vital to public order and national security," the authority cautioned. The CCPA noted that consumers rely heavily on online descriptions while shopping. The sale of non-compliant devices exposes them to significant regulatory risks.
Five additional matters involving Antriksh Technologies, IndiaMart, Tradeindia.com, Vardaanmart, and Krishna Mart remain at various stages of investigation or hearing. The CCPA continues its scrutiny of e-commerce platforms to ensure consumer protection and regulatory compliance in this sensitive sector.
