Government Issues New Guidelines to Curb Illegal Sale of Walkie-Talkies Online

 

 

In a move to strengthen consumer safety and national communication infrastructure, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued new norms to restrict the illegal walkie-talkie sale on e-commerce platforms. Titled the 2025 Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment, the directive aims to curb the proliferation of unlicensed wireless devices, including walkie-talkies, that pose risks to both consumers and critical communication networks.

Announced under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the guidelines target sellers who list non-compliant radio equipment without necessary legal disclosures, including the requirement of wireless operating licenses. Authorities raised concerns that such devices can interfere with official communication networks—including those used by law enforcement, emergency services, and defense agencies.

The rules were finalized after extensive inter-ministerial consultations with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). These discussions revealed that many walkie-talkies sold online were bypassing licensing requirements and lacked clarity on operational limitations, misleading buyers about their legality.

The walkie-talkie restrictions outlined in the guidelines now mandate clear compliance documentation from sellers, license verification for listed products, and proactive platform-level regulation by e-commerce operators. Marketplaces will be held accountable for enabling the illegal listing and sale of such products and are expected to implement tighter oversight mechanisms.

This action underscores the government's focus on enforcing online walkie-talkie regulations to prevent potential misuse, protect critical communication infrastructure, and ensure that consumers are not misled into purchasing illegal or dangerous equipment. The guidelines are part of broader efforts to regulate the digital marketplace and uphold transparency, legality, and public safety in the sale of wireless communication devices.