End Of Pesky Calls? Telecom Companies To Include AI-Based Spam Filters

Unwanted calls and SMS may finally end as the Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI) enforces new rules for companies today.

Millions across India are likely to be spared unsolicited calls and messages, with the telecom regulator directing companies to incorporate Artificial Intelligence or AI-based spam filters into their call and SMS services.

AI To Stop Pesky Calls

The AI filter will automatically avoid fake and promotional calls and messages from unknown sources. The regulator has been working with telecom companies to crack down on such calls and messages.

The AI spam filters are designed to identify and block fake and promotional calls and messages often used to scam customers.

Telecom companies including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, BSNL and Vodafone have agreed to comply with the new rules and launch AI filters.

No promotional calls

TRAI has also urged telecom operators to stop promotional calls to 10-digit mobile numbers and install a Caller ID feature that displays the caller's name and image on the screen.

Caller ID feature

Airtel and Jio are reportedly in talks with the Truecaller app for the Caller ID feature. According to a report on the Economic Times, Truecaller is in talks with these companies to stop spam.

TRAI met with telecom operators in February to discuss a detection system for "Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC)", calling it a major inconvenience to the public and an infringement of their privacy.

Blocking Calls

To permanently block spam calls, one can activate the DND (Do Not Disturb) option on one's mobile number.

The National Customer Preference Register (NCPR), earlier known as the National Do Not Call Registry (NDNC), helps stop spam calls once a customer signs up for the service.