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The government on Wednesday released the draft Indian <keyword id="15052971" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TELECOMMUNICATION-BILL" source="Orion">Telecommunication Bill</keyword>, 2022, under which it has proposed a provision to waive off fees and penalty of telecom and internet service providers. The ministry has proposed provision for refund of fees in case a telecom or internet provider surrenders his license. "Seeking your views on the draft <keyword id="10642" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="INDIAN-TELECOM" source="Orion">Indian Telecom</keyword> Bill 2022," Telecom Minister <keyword id="7796574" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ashwini-vaishnaw" source="Orion">Ashwini Vaishnaw</keyword> said in a post on a social media platform in which he also shared the link of the draft bill. The last date for public comment on the draft is October 20. According to the draft , the central government may, "waive in part or full any fee, including entry fees, license fees, registrations fees or any other fees or charges, interest, additional charges or penalty" for any licence holder or registered entity under the telecom rules. The bill proposes to exempt "press messages that are intended to be published in India" of correspondents accredited to the central or state government from interception. However, the exemption will not be granted in case of any public emergency or in the interest of the public safety, sovereignty, integrity or security of India, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, or to prevent incitement to an offence, according to the draft. In such cases "any message or class of messages, to or from any person or class of persons, or relating to any particular subject, brought for transmission by, or transmitted or received by any telecommunication services or telecommunication network, shall not be transmitted, or shall be intercepted or detained or disclosed" to the authorized officer, according to the draft bill. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/gauri-khan-on-aryans-arrest-nothing-can-be-worse-than-what-weve-been-through/articleshow/94367284.cms">Gauri Khan on Aryan's arrest: Nothing can be worse than what we've been through</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ford-india-finalises-severance-package-with-workers-at-chennai-plant/articleshow/94367067.cms">Ford India finalises severance package with workers at Chennai plant</a>

DoT proposes fee, penalty waiver under new telecom rules

<ul><li>The telecom authority has instructed all organizations and companies to incorporate artificial intelligence spam filters into their smartphone call and messaging services.</li><li>This move aims to protect consumers from fraudulent and harassing activities.</li></ul>According to media <a href="https://www.indiatvnews.com/technology/news/no-more-spam-calls-and-messages-trai-implements-new-rule-based-on-ai-2023-05-01-868252">reports</a>, starting today, Indian telecom companies are required to incorporate AI filters in their systems to detect and block <keyword id="2232456" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="spam-calls" source="Orion">spam calls</keyword> and messages, as per TRAI's new regulations. The move aims to address the increasing problem of spam calls and messages in the country. Telecom giants, including Vodafone, Airtel, Jio, and BSNL, are all working towards implementing these AI filters in their services by the TRAI's deadline. Airtel has already announced the provision of AI filters to their customers, while Jio is gearing up to install filters for fake calls and messages. Along with the AI filters, the regulatory authority has prohibited promotional calls to 10-digit numbers. Moreover, TRAI plans to introduce a Caller ID feature that would display the name and photo of the caller. However, the telecom companies are cautious about privacy issues and are in discussion with Truecaller regarding the Caller ID feature's implementation. Earlier this year, COAI, an industry body, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/implementation-of-caller-name-display-should-not-be-mandatory-telcos-body-to-trai/articleshow/97144949.cms">opposed</a> the mandatory implementation of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) and requested it to be optional for telecom operators. The association filed a technical, privacy, and regulatory report with TRAI, citing concerns regarding the costs involved. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="AI filters to combat fake calls menace" comment="subhead" text="AI filters to combat fake calls menace">AI filters to combat fake calls menace</cmsannotation> The implementation of AI filters will assist smartphone users in avoiding fake and promotional calls that occupy unnecessary space and cause distractions. Telecom giants, such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, have announced their plans to introduce the AI filter service, though the specific timeline has not been disclosed. It is expected that the feature will be operational starting today. TRAI has been striving to combat fake calls and messages for a while now, given that they are a common way of duping mobile users and extracting money from their accounts, hacking their data, and more. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/bill-gatess-optimistic-view-on-ai-chatbots-in-education/articleshow/99809787.cms">Bill Gates says AI Chatbots will transform education by making tutoring affordable and accessible</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/smarter-than-a-smartphone-a-new-wearable-challenges-the-traditional-device/articleshow/99812363.cms">Smarter than a smartphone? A new wearable challenges the ‘traditional’ device</a>

TRAI's new AI spam filters will provide relief from spam calls and messages

Data adoption and tariff hike-led revenue growth as well as 5G rollouts are key monitorables for 2023 which will also be a decisive year for Vodafone Idea as a viable third player, according to a report. The telecom sector's Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) when adjusted for inflation is still 17 per cent below pre-Reliance <keyword id="2003276" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jio" source="Orion">Jio</keyword> launch. "...we expect <keyword id="6406583" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bharti" source="Orion">Bharti</keyword> (Airtel) to lead tariff hikes to ARPU of Rs 236 by FY25, while Bharti targets Rs 300 ARPU", leading brokerage <keyword id="6397676" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="clsa" source="Orion">CLSA</keyword> said in its report on the telecom sector. According to CLSA's outlook, 2023 will have three trends to watch out for when it comes to India's mobile market. Among them will be 5G rollouts and monetisation led by top-end subscribers. "We see multiple events to watch, led by likely tariff hikes and <keyword id="6354504" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="reliance-jio" source="Orion">Reliance Jio</keyword>'s (RJio) widely-anticipated IPO," it said. Private networks, if allowed, may eat into 5G operators' enterprise services opportunity. India's mobile sector revenue, after rising 14 per cent in 2022, should grow again in 2023 led by tariff hikes, rising data penetration and usage. CLSA expects that Bharti (Airtel) will possibly lead tariff hikes, with <keyword id="634808" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="vil" source="Orion">VIL</keyword> (Vodafone Idea Ltd) and Reliance Jio likely to follow. VIL's financial crisis has not been averted, with delays in fund raising and pending conversion of four years' interest on spectrum and AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue) payments into equity for government. With decline in VIL's share, Bharti and Jio together control 77 per cent and should continue to gain share, the report said. "VIL fund raising is critical for 4G capex and 5G rollout while delays could trigger further share loss, which would be gains for RJio and Bharti which will ramp up 5G rollouts in 2023," it added. Jio and Bharti 5G rollout will coincide with growing subscriber realisations and market share gains. "We forecast rising ARPU and data penetration to drive a 14 per cent CAGR in sector revenue to Rs 2,84,600 crore (USD 36 billion) by FY25," it said. As per the report, the new telecom bill will be "positive" for VIL. "VIL, which is currently in a four-year moratorium on government dues, could gain from this regulatory bill, which could have options of write-offs," the report said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/overall-demand-scenario-not-changed-significantly-but-europe-is-a-problem-says-tcs-ceo/articleshow/96859049.cms">Overall demand scenario not changed significantly but Europe is a problem says TCS CEO</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/airtel-reliance-jio-and-vodafone-idea-q3-earnings-preview-tariff-hikes-a-key-trigger/articleshow/96796094.cms">Churn and fewer 4G subscribers to slow down telecom revenue growth in Q3</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/sbi-hdfc-bank-axis-bank-among-other-private-and-public-bank-earnings-could-see-a-further-ramp-up-in-q3-2022/articleshow/96768992.cms">Bank earnings could see a further ramp up in Q3, say analysts</a>

Tariff hike-led growth, 5G key events for telecom in 2023, decisive year for VIL: CLSA

<ul><li>The <keyword id="30356" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telecom-Regulatory-Authority-of-India">Telecom Regulatory Authority of India</keyword> (TRAI) has launched a new app — ‘Channel Selector Application’ — dedicated to cable TV pricing and subscriptions. </li><li>The new regulations will come into effect from 1 February 2019. </li><li>This will let viewers select packages and calculate monthly rentals.</li></ul>As the new pricing model for cable TV comes into play from next month, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched a new app — <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/trais-channel-selector-application-choose-your-100-channels-know-bill-details-5553797/">‘Channel Selector Application’</a> — to help people pick channels they want to watch. Starting next month, consumers will be able to customize channels as per their choice, and pay per use. Cable TV companies in India have been asked to adhere to these regulations latest by 31 January. With the deadline approaching, the app is aimed to help viewers of cable TVs or DTH select the channels they want rather than automatically be enrolled in monthly packages that include channels people don’t want to watch. Giving viewers the choice to select their preferred channels could make their monthly bills cheaper. Calculating bills The app can be accessed through TRAI’s <a href="https://channel.trai.gov.in/">official website</a>. It will simplify information on channels and their Maximum Retail Price (MRP), and will help calculate rentals. Just like online shopping platforms, the web-based service contains filters to choose from — including price, service provider and language among others — which can help in price comparison. The application will then show up channels to select from and calculate the bill for the selected ones. It’s yet to be seen whether this revives the fortunes for cable TV channels as they compete with increasing number of digital content and video streaming services. The relaxed pricing scheme is likely to fetch more viewers for cable TVs and broadcast media, at least in the short term. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-new-cable-tv-pricing-will-force-broadcasters-to-put-on-better-shows/articleshow/67450569.cms">India’s new cable TV pricing will force broadcasters to put on better shows</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-why-ott-platforms-were-a-big-hit-among-indians-in-2018/articleshow/67286083.cms">Here's why OTT platforms were a big hit among Indians in 2018</a>

TRAI launches app to let people select and pay for only cable channels they want to watch

<ul><li>After the Indian government approved changing the name of the <keyword id="158388" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telecom-Commission">Telecom Commission</keyword> to the Digital Communications Commission, inside sources reveal that it is more than just a namesake.</li><li>The Indian government plans on bringing <keyword id="803848" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Data-privacy">data privacy</keyword> and security under the umbrella of the Telecom Commission as well. </li><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>’s data consumption, while on telecom networks, in currently looked after by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.</li></ul>Technically any data consumption that happens on your phone is on a telecom network. But, rather than the Telecom Commission being in charge of its security, it’s the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) that cares of your data privacy concerns. In order to address that discrepancy, the Indian government is thinking of switching gears and putting all data related regulations and directives under <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/data-cyber-security-may-come-under-trai-telecom-commission/articleshow/66406362.cms">one umbrella</a> with the Telecom Commission. But that’s easier said than done. The government would have to widen the scope for the commission as well bring in amendments to include new laws and regulations. In order to tackle this gargantuan shift, the Indian government’s already put a panel in place to figure out how to bring the various aspects of <keyword id="145060" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-security">data security</keyword> and privacy under the ambit of the Telecom Commission and out from under MeitY. A senior official at the commission told the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/data-cyber-security-may-come-under-trai-telecom-commission/articleshow/66406362.cms">Economic Times</a> that the recent change of the Telecom Commission to the Digital Communication Commission (DCC) and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (<keyword id="6356988" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="trai">TRAI</keyword>) being <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/trai-to-be-renamed-as-dcrai-telecom-minister/articleshow/65970939.cms">renamed</a> the Digital Communications Regulatory Authority of India (DCRAI) is more than just namesake. It’s about cementing the idea that any policy changes that happen aren’t just from a single ministry, but from the government as a whole. Putting data regulation and security under one commission would streamline the processes that have to follow as well. Especially since 93% of data consumption happens on telecom networks. Here’s how it’s going to happen TRAI explains why accountability, autonomy and security are integral for it to be an efficient ‘Data Controller’ in its <a href="https://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Takshashila_07_11_2017.pdf">report</a>, the ‘Privacy, Security and Ownership of Data in the Telecom Sector’. Laws have to be changed, panels have to set up and experts have to be called in. And, first in line are the implications of the <keyword id="6996546" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="personal-data-privacy-bill">Personal Data Privacy Bill</keyword>. Scheduled to come back on the table in December once all comments and suggestions have been taken into consideration, the draft bill will give users the right to monitor their consent or withdraw it altogether. Though the bill was submitted to the <keyword id="296566" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IT-Ministry">IT ministry</keyword>, it may shift under the TRAI once the required changes are made to the TRAI Act and scope of the ministry. These changes can only be made through an amendment in laws. And, that takes time. There may already be a panel in place, but the Indian government still has a long way to go to not only ensure data privacy for its citizens but simultaneously bring in cybersecurity under the Telecom Commission.

India plans on handing over the reins of data privacy to the telecom industry watchdog

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rudy Giuliani's consultancy owes nearly $60,000 over unpaid phone bills from 2020.</li><li>The firm failed to pay monthly bills of $1,500 for nine months that year, per court filings.</li></ul>A consulting firm started by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani owes more than $57,000 to a Georgia-based telco after failing to pay phone bills for around nine months.A new judgment detailing the full cost — $57,655 — was filed against Giuliani Partners LLC on Sunday in the New York State Supreme Court, per records seen by Insider.The cost includes nine unpaid monthly bills from 2020 that Momentum Telecom said the law firm <a href="https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/DocumentDisplayServlet?documentId=XHgWWWWcbBUdGXt7sahBoA==&amp;system=prod" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"failed and refused to pay,"</a> totaling $13,545. Giuliani Partners owes a further $30,396 from an early termination fee.Judge Suzanne J. Adams affirmed on July 17 that the consultancy must pay $43,950 to the telco, along with interest accrued since May 2020.<a href="https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/DocumentDisplayServlet?documentId=_PLUS_R78tWALqhv1w4Mew6CZ5Q==&amp;system=prod" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sunday judgment</a> calculated interest at $12,831, and additional costs and disbursements at $873, bringing Giuliani Partners' total debt to almost $60,000.Giuliani started his consultancy in 2002 and left in 2007 amid questions over his failure to disclose some of the firm's clients.<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119440640166884884" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported that one of Giuliani's clients in 2007 was Qatar, which received security advice from Giuliani Partners LLC. The revelation steeped Giuliani in controversy, given Qatar's past ties with Al Qaeda. Giuliani was running for president at the time and had positioned himself as a post-9/11 guardian against Islamic terrorism.After withdrawing from the Republican primary, Giuliani <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/nyregion/17rudy.html">returned to Giuliani Partners.</a> A subsidiary of the firm, Giuliani Security &amp; Services, <a href="http://www.giulianisecurity.com/about/">describes him</a> as the current chairman and CEO of Giuliani Partners.The firm, which typically provides security and management consulting services, played a role in former President Donald Trump's 2020 re-election bid, receiving travel expenses of $63,400 from Trump's campaign and $76,500 from the Make America Great Again PAC, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/09/politics/rudy-giuliani-subpoena-special-counsel-fundraising-trump/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN reported.</a>Court records show Giuliani Partners has not filed any response to Momentum Telecom's debt filings or Adams' affirmation. Representatives for Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours.

Rudy Giuliani's consultancy has racked up $57,000 in unpaid phone bills after it 'failed and refused to pay' its telco for 9 months

<ul><li>TRAI is reportedly working on a consultation paper aimed to reduce cable television bills. </li><li>When the new tariff regime came into place in February 2019, there was a huge uproar from consumers because of having to ultimately pay higher prices. </li><li>TRAI is also looking to regulate OTT platforms in India.</li></ul>Within months of implementing a new DTH tariff regime, the telecom regulator wants to try and make cable bills cheaper, yet again. <keyword id="30356" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telecom-Regulatory-Authority-of-India">Telecom Regulatory Authority of India</keyword> (TRAI) is working on a consultation paper to reduce the bills, according to <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/media/3-months-into-new-tariffs-trai-looks-to-lower-tv-bills/articleshow/69420499.cms?UTM_Source=Google_Newsstand&amp;UTM_Campaign=RSS_Feed&amp;UTM_Medium=Referral&amp;from=mdr">reports</a>. Under the new tariff regime which was painstakingly implemented by players in February this year, consumers could pay-per-channel, making way for more transparency in the final bill they were paying. However, this pro-consumer move resulted in confusion amongst users and even television blackouts. As a result, the number of consumer complaints shot up. TRAI had to issue a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/new-trai-rules-and-show-cause-notice-to-airtel/articleshow/67877793.cms">showcause</a> notice to Airtel when old channels were disconnected and new channels selected by consumers, failed to activate. Not cheap at all Consumers also complained of having to pay higher prices than before. In order to deal with the confusion, TRAI also extended the time for selection of channels for viewers under the new subscription model. The revised date for consumers stood at March 31. However, it seems that almost two months later, things are not right yet. “The aim was to make TV channel pricing more transparent and to give control of channels to the consumers, while making it more affordable… but it did not pan out that way,” a TRAI official told <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/media/3-months-into-new-tariffs-trai-looks-to-lower-tv-bills/articleshow/69420499.cms?UTM_Source=Google_Newsstand&amp;UTM_Campaign=RSS_Feed&amp;UTM_Medium=Referral&amp;from=mdr">ET.</a> Meanwhile, TRAI is also looking to regulate OTT platforms like <keyword id="2739840" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hotstar">Hotstar</keyword>, SonyLiv and ZEE5. TRAI Chairman R.S. Sharma, along with other dignitaries recently held an open house discussion for a consultation Paper on regulatory framework for Over-the Top (OTT) communication services in India.

Television viewing in India may get cheaper again as TRAI works on reducing bills

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Consumers and advocates are fed up with it being incredibly difficult to cancel subscriptions.</li><li>Democratic Rep. Mark Takano plans on trying to tackle the topic again this Congress.</li></ul>It's the new streaming show you can't miss. The one-time gift that you probably forgot about. The New Year's resolution that started strong, but by February you're having second thoughts. Whatever it was, it's a subscription now.Today, you can't escape subscriptions. They encompass everything from our binge-watching to our meal kits to books and makeup. It's when you want to cancel that things get tricky. The struggle frustrates even the professionals who deal with this. Do you need show up somewhere in person? Click through a maze of prompts? Call a hotline? That is if you even can find the number, which can take a "National Treasure"-level of sleuthing skills. According to Pymnts.com, a site that tracks e-commerce, just over 80% of American households held a subscription <a href="https://www.pymnts.com/news/2022/retailers-success-could-come-down-to-the-abcs-this-year/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">near the end of last year</a>. And while the retail industry is seeing subscription numbers decline, you can be sure it's been a pain for consumers to get free. <h2>Advocates are pushing for Congress to act</h2>Congress has tried twice already to make it easier for Americans to unsubscribe. Rep. Mark Takano, a California Democrat, told Insider that he plans to reintroduce The Unsubscribe Act for a fourth time later this year. Consumer Action and National Consumers League have helped push the legislation in past. "Deceptive practices by large corporations make it easy to sign up for subscriptions, but nearly impossible to opt out," Takano said in a statement to Insider. <div type="image" title="Mark Takano" height="1249" width="2500" msid="97987632" hostid="261" sizebytes="126094"></div>The bill would require companies to be upfront when they roll a free trial into a paid plan without expressly telling you, a practice known as negative option billing. The legislation would also require a company to offer a straightforward cancelation process. That would mean that a company that lets you subscribe via an app can't then require you to come in person to cancel.Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, has worked on companion legislation in the past. His bill had the distinction of garnering bipartisan support, including Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican. Getting any bill passed in a divided government will be daunting, but the prospect of bipartisan support could offer a glimmer of hope though.<h2>Hard-to-cancel subscriptions are a widespread business model across many industries </h2>Consumer advocates that Insider spoke to said they were turned onto this issue by their own struggles. Ruth Susswein, director of Consumer Action, was taken aback when she noticed that what she thought was a one-time gift had actually turned into a recurring charge, thanks to an automatic renewal clause that was buried in the terms of service."That is more than just an inconvenience, that is not the way anyone should be doing business," Susswein said. She added that companies must find it cost-effective to automatically enroll consumers without concern for those who might object or for potential legal issues with regulators or attorneys general.John Breyault, an official with the National Consumers League who focuses on telecoms and fraud, said that his organization was turned onto the topic after they realized their office furniture lease had an automatic renewal. "We weren't aware of the automatic renewal provisions of the contract," Breyault told Insider. "We had to fight like heck to get out of it.""If it happens to us, it happens to consumers and nonprofits and businesses all the time," he said.Search any social media thread about subscription woes, and you'll see some frequent offenders.Adobe is so notorious for its use of cancellation fees that users have <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/qg1tyr/adobe_is_shady_company_canceling_a_free_trial_for/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developed workarounds. </a>A representative for the company to did not respond to a request for comment.Many complaints are devoted to publications, an American Press Institute <a href="https://www.niemanlab.org/2021/03/most-u-s-news-organizations-still-wont-let-readers-cancel-their-subscriptions-online/">survey in 2021 found</a> that only 41% of US publications made it "easy" for readers to cancel their subscriptions online. The New York Times <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/theodorecasey/2017/10/16/we-shouldnt-have-to-call-to-cancel-the-new-york-times-in-2017/?sh=46391b7954cc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">used</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/darkpatterns/status/1479528080737808392?s=20&amp;t=-Q14fkFFez5r8pV2bV9ltw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">direct subscribers </a>to either a virtual chat or a hotline. Only last year did the Times begin to allow digital subscribers to cancel their subscriptions directly, Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander told Insider. He added the publication hopes to soon make this available to all print subscribers soon — currently only some can use this method.Planet Fitness<a href="https://www.planetfitness.com/en-au/about-planet-fitness/customer-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> is up front </a>that its members must cancel at a gym or by mail, even if they can sign up online."Our standard cancellation policy, which is outlined for members upon joining, notes that cancellation in person or via written mail notification is required," said McCall Gosselin, senior vice president of communications and corporate social responsibility at Planet Fitness in a statement to Insider. Gosselin added that they have added the ability to digitally cancel in some states and are exploring ways to expand access to that function.<h2>Biden could do something about it</h2>The Federal Trade Commission could also use its policies to go after companies. It has in the past.The FTC<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2022/11/ftc-action-against-vonage-results-100-million-customers-trapped-illegal-dark-patterns-junk-fees-when-trying-cancel-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> fined Vonage,</a> an online phone service, $100 million after the agency alleged that the company used "dark patterns" that made it difficult for customers to cancel. In some cases, the agency alleged that the company continued to charge customers even after they hunted down the cancelation hotline number and spoke to an actual person.<a href="https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/subscribe#:~:text=subscribe%20to%20something,or%20for%20a%20computer%20service." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> In October 2021</a>, the FTC issued an enforcement policy statement making it clear that it was putting companies on notice if they made subscribing easy and canceling far too difficult.The problem is so large though, Breyault cautioned that the agency can't tackle it alone. He added that the FTC has so many different responsibilities, including crypto, that it looks for only the most egregious defenders. Passing the Unsubscribe Act would give the federal government additional legal authority to hold companies accountable beyond the FTC's overall powers.There's precedent for executive action working on this, but it's mostly abroad. <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/01/amazon-ends-prime-cancellation-dark-patterns-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon agreed to change</a> how users cancel its Prime membership after European regulators, US consumer groups, and, finally, the FTC stepped in. Before the tech giant changed its practices last summer, Public Citizen, another US consumer group,<a href="https://twitter.com/Public_Citizen/status/1349727430278225922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1349727430278225922%7Ctwgr%5E2e97d7eb76aab056b667337c6bf0586f01b60891%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.citizen.org%2Fnews%2Fftc-complaint-ending-an-amazon-prime-membership-is-a-deceptive-unlawful-ordeal%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> published a video</a> showing the long process it took to cancel the service. It was an odd juxtaposition for a company that makes purchasing with just one click a huge part of its model.State and local officials have also taken notice.Then-DC Attorney Karl Racine went after the food delivery service Grubhub for hitting customers with hidden fees and using deceptive marketing about its subscription service. The company<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/12/30/grubhub-suit-dc-attorney-general-fees/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> later agreed</a> to pay an $800,000 fine and an additional $2.7 million to settle the suit.Still, the chances of a bill passing this Congress a longshot. President Joe Biden called out consumer-related issues in his State of the Union, but it's unclear where unwanted subscriptions fit in.While consumers wait for regulation, the situation is so bleak that some companies are now devoted to helping you get out of the pile of undesired subscriptions. Naturally, you often have to subscribe for that, too.

It's far harder to cancel a subscription than it is to sign up for one. A bill in Congress wants to change that.

<ul><li>Global technology companies <keyword id="6355629" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="google">Google</keyword>, <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword>, <keyword id="6354616" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword>, and <keyword id="6354576" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="facebook">Facebook</keyword>, remain apprehensive about India’s new data laws after being questioned by India’s <keyword id="74228" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Joint-Parliamentary-Committee">Joint Parliamentary Committee</keyword> (JPC) on the Personal Data Protection Bill this week.</li><li>The only indigenous company to be called for deposition for far, Paytm, told the committee that it’s open to regulation.</li><li>All these companies have been given one week to prepare formal responses and submit affidavits. </li></ul>India’s Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has been questioning Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, Google, and even Paytm over concerns regarding data protection and data privacy. The JPC may also <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/india/parliamentary-panel-to-meet-airtel-on-data-protection-bill-11603966666145.html">reportedly</a> summon India’s top two telecom giants, <keyword id="6354504" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="reliance-jio">Reliance Jio</keyword> and <keyword id="15491" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airtel">Airtel</keyword>, and cab-hailing services, Uber and Ola, next week. While Paytm has welcomed India’s new Personal Data Protection Bill, Google, Twitter, and Amazon have shown some restraint. Google’s response may have been more positive than the others, but it does not imply its undivided support. The consultation process is meant to increase the country’s understanding of how these companies use, store and mobilise data, according to the JPC’s chairperson Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Meenakshi Lekhi. <div type="image" title="googleplus_edited" msid="78949846" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Google&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Google Google’s representatives asserted that the Personal Data Protection Bill, once enacted, would strengthen the framework around data privacy and security in India. However, the global tech giant maintained that the move to localise data isn’t in the best interests of data protection and data privacy, according to the <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jpc-questions-google-paytm-over-china-links/story-fJcEdDh2hyWSwvzyLVr0CJ.html">Hindustan Times. </a>Google highlighted that localization of data would be at odds with open trade and modern-day data protection standards. It submitted a 25-page report arguing its stance. However, it held no sway with the committee. The JPC questioned Google over its relationship with China — and the Chinese Navy in particular. It was also asked about its market control when it comes to the smartphone market since more than 90% of smartphones manufactured worldwide use Google’s Android platform as their operating system. Considering the mountain-high revenues the company generates in India, Google was asked if it thought the effective tax rate it paid was ‘absurdly low.’ Google evaded some questions and was unable to answer others. The head of the committee, Meenakshi Lekhi, has instructed the international giant to submit a detailed affidavit in one week. “They themselves are the platforms, sellers, and news agencies. And Google itself has the control button to which information will come first, which will come later or which news will flash and which will be suppressed. So how it can be a neutral platform?” Lekhi told PTI after the meeting. <div type="image" title="facebook" msid="78949862" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Facebook&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Facebook Facebook saw the exit of its public policy head in India, Ankhi Das, just a few days after her deposition. Das was grilled for two hours by the JPC on Monday and asked some tough and searching questions by the panel members from across the political spectrum, sources told PTI. According to the social media giant, India’s new data protection laws can propel the country’s digital economy and global digital trade. “We believe that India’s data protection law has the potential to propel the country’s digital economy and global digital trade, and we wholeheartedly support this effort,” said the company’s spokesperson. <div type="image" title="amazon" msid="78949879" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Amazon offices in India&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Amazon Amazon had earlier come under fire for declining the JPC’s invitation to appear because the company claimed it did not have anyone with the relevant expertise to address the committee’s concerns. However, yesterday, both Amazon India and Amazon Web Services showed up, according to <a href="https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/amazon-appears-before-joint-parliamentary-committee-following-misunderstanding-7327321.htm">CNBC TV-18.</a> The company claimed that the entire episode was a ‘misunderstanding’ due to international travel restrictions given the coronavirus pandemic. Amazon was questioned over its revenue model and how much tax it pays in India. And, since India is a considerable part of its revenue generation, the committee also questioned the company over how it reinvests back in the country. The JPC has asked Amazon to submit its answers in writing in one week. <div type="image" title="twitter 2 unsplash" msid="78949889" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Twitter&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>Twitter Ahead of being questioned by the JPC, the social networking giant issued an apology for showing Leh as a part of China. The committee had earlier asked Twitter to submit a public apology and submit an affidavit regarding the issue. “Leh being shown as a part of China can be construed as an act of treason and is punishable with unto seven years of imprisonment,” Lekhi told <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/act-of-treason-parliament-panel-slams-twitter-on-leh-map-fiasco/story-kBG0bJcSHp2bQQblA1gbCJ.html">Hindustan Times</a>. “The committee was unanimous in flagging the issue and expressed its stern disapproval.” Twitter also came under fire for its practices regarding hate speech and taking down on accounts. According to PTI, Lekhi believes that Twitter may have a little too much control. ”Shadow banning, banning policy… there is no clarity about it. Such actions are very subjective... Twitter is becoming a law unto themselves, and under these circumstances, they are violating Article 19 of the Constitution about the freedom of expression,” she said. <div type="image" title="paytm" msid="78949896" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Paytm&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> Paytm Paytm is the only indigenous company to have been summoned by the JPC so far. And, it went to the panel with its solution. Paytm pitched that the government should handle the encryption and decryption of data held by global companies while letting data cross borders. However, the proposal was quickly withdrawn after several objections by some of the members of the committee, according to <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/parliamentary-panel-question-paytm-about-chinese-investment-google-over-resisting-data-localisation/articleshow/78942848.cms">Times of India.</a> The Vijay Shekhar Sharma-led enterprise was asked about the quantum of Chinese investments it has received and why some of its revenues were directed back to China. It was also probed for details behind the temporary removal of its app from Google Play Store for violating its ‘gambling’ policies. Paytm acknowledged that 35% of its investment was Chinese but that investors don’t have any say in how the company is run. They also clarified that while some personal and sensitive data may be transferred outside India for ‘processing,’ this only occurs when there is explicit consent from the user. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/kepler-estimates-there-are-at-least-300-million-potentially-habitable-planets-within-the-milky-way-galaxy/articleshow/78946863.cms">Kepler estimates there are at least 300 million potentially habitable planets within the Milky Way galaxy</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/mit-has-a-new-ai-model-that-can-detect-asymptomatic-covid-19-patients-just-by-the-using-the-sound-of-their-coughs-recorded-over-phone-calls/articleshow/78927475.cms">MIT has a new AI model that can detect asymptomatic COVID-19 patients just by the using the sound of their coughs recorded over phone calls</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tata-communications-executive-explains-how-iot-is-expanding-beyond-manufacturing-and-which-sectors-are-showing-the-fastest-growth/articleshow/78924587.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Tata Communications’ IoT head explains how COVID is driving the next wave of Internet of Things</a>

Google, Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook remain apprehensive about India’s new data laws but Paytm is open to regulation

<ul><li><keyword id="819905" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="instagram" source="Orion">Instagram</keyword> users started seeing a new Note feature on the direct message screen. </li><li>The company has not officially announced the feature yet. </li><li>Users have mixed reactions to the Note feature. </li></ul>On Tuesday, Meta's short video and photo-sharing app Instagram surprised its users with a new Note feature. The feature is essentially a 60-character text that appears next to the user’s display pictures on top of the direct message (DMs) screen. It arrives with the latest update and is slowly rolled out to all users. Instagram has not officially announced the addition of this feature yet, but some users first spotted it in July. However, the screenshots shared by those users look different from the current interface. <div type="twitter" handle="ow" handlename="Owen Williams ⚡" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1182010589473849346/f30nGbel_normal.jpg" favoritecount="396" retweetcount="52" status="Oh my god they went and put Facebook INSIDE INSTAGRAM now whyyyy https://t.co/yymXQO2oh4" createdat="1657654066000" id="1546939393746747392"></div> Instagram users have different views on it; some like it and are putting it to good use, while some just don't wish to have it on top of their DMs. Here's how it looks- <div type="twitter" handle="Hamiltonkingsly" handlename="Hami " image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1565697211748724736/8WtgBzVC_normal.jpg" favoritecount="3" retweetcount="0" status=".@instagram note update😍 https://t.co/bZDgGCA3tq" createdat="1664330049000" id="1574940493988868096"></div> In my case, I started seeing the <keyword id="47927" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="notes" source="Orion">Notes</keyword> on Tuesday after an automatic over-the-air (OTA) update. So first, a few notes were visible, but later, many other users observed the newly updated interface. The first posts were more like the people's reaction to this feature, and by day two, some started using it to share personal updates like "feeling great to meet mom after long", another travel influencer posted, "I am in Kolkata today." Then some are posting jokes and greetings. It also allows you to tap on it and reply to the Note to start a conversation. Instagram users are drawing similarities with Facebook, BBM statuses and Twitter. While this does not take away anything from the user experience, its placement is a bit arguable. As mentioned, it's placed right on top of the messages screen, and it's fair to say that you can't ignore it even if you wish to. Some friends reached out to me to find a way to disable it, but even after extensive digging, I did not find a way to do it. The only option, as of now, is to tap and hold the Note and then tap on the 'Mute notes' option. Remember that you'll have to do it individually for all notes. If you wish to unmute, you'll have to do it from that user's profile page. Business Insider India has reached out to Instagram for more clarity on this feature’s roll-out plan and whether it is a final build or a beta. We will update the story with inputs. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/amid-concerns-of-jio-airtel-duopoly-analysts-suggest-new-telecom-bill-empowers-govt-to-maintain-competition/articleshow/94502923.cms" style="">Amid concerns of Jio-Airtel duopoly, analysts suggest new telecom bill empowers govt to maintain competition</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/intel-unveils-13th-gen-raptor-lake-processors-with-up-to-24-cores/articleshow/94501663.cms" style="">Intel unveils 13th gen Raptor Lake processors with up to 24 cores</a>

Instagram adds a new Note feature in DMs, and there's no way to turn it off

New Delhi, Nov 21 () India Inc on Thursday welcomed the government's decision to defer receipt of spectrum auction installments due from telecom service providers, saying the move will provide headroom to the sector currently facing stress, generate job opportunities and drive consumer demand.
 The government on Wednesday doled out a Rs 42,000 crore relief to debt-laden telecom companies after it agreed not to take any payments for spectrum they use for the next two years.
 The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved giving Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea Ltd and Reliance Jio an option to avail a two-year moratorium on payments they were supposed to make in yearly installments for the spectrum bought in auctions.
 This is a great breakthrough in the economic reform system and will have a positive impact on the growth and development of telecom sector and the economy as a whole, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry President D K Aggarwal said.
 Deferment of spectrum auction installments will provide a pronounced relief to stressed telecom service providers leading to their continuous operations, ease their cash outflow and give them window to make payments for statutory liabilities and interest on bank loans, Aggarwal said.
 As the telecom sector is one of the major growth driver of economy, this move is welcomed as it will generate employment opportunities for the potential workforce, drive consumer demand sentiments in the economy, provide further impetus and pave way to achieve USD 5 trillion economy going forward, he added. 
 "Another notable decision of the government is the relief provided to the telecom sector by way of deferment of receipt of spectrum auction instalments due from telecom service providers for the year 2020-21 and 2021-22," Ficci President Sandip Somany said.
 The move should provide some headroom to the telecom sector in the country as it is seeing a lot of stress, he said.
 Describing the strategic sale of CPSEs as a major reform, Assocham said the decision reflects the clear mind set of the government about steadily moving out of businesses.
 "The underlying thinking is that the government has no business to be in business. It is a welcome and a major policy change," Assocham President BK Goenka said.
 Besides, the bill cleared by the Cabinet for allowing fixed term employment is a good and decisive starting point for labour reforms, Goenka said.
 The Centre on Wednesday approved the Industrial Relation Code Bill, which is the third code under labour reforms. 
 The government wants to codify 44 central labour laws into four broad codes.
 While the Code on Wages has already been approved by the Parliament, the Labour ministry will push the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill in the Budget Session. 
 The Code on Social Security is in pre-legislative stage.
 The bill provides for setting up a two-member tribunal (in place of one-member), thus introducing a concept that some of the important cases will be adjudicated jointly and the rest by a single-member, resulting in speedier disposal of cases.
 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also approved sale of government's entire 53.29 per cent stake along with transfer of management control in the country's second biggest state-owned refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) after removing Numaligarh refinery from its fold.
 It also gave a nod to sale of the entire government holding of 63.75 per cent in Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and 30.9 per cent stake in Container Corp of India (Concor). RSN RVK

Deferment of spectrum payment to provide headroom to telecom sector: India Inc

New Delhi, Apr 13 () Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) has approached the government for support in ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply and priority connections for telecom towers across the country during the lockdown, imposed to fight the spread of coronavirus. TAIPA has urged Power Ministry to advise all state governments and state electricity companies across the country to ensure availability of uninterrupted electricity supply for telecom tower operations. Also, all state electricity distribution companies should give electricity connections on 'priority' for telecom tower sites in view of present situation, to make them operational for telecom services. TAIPA, whose members include all key players in the telecom infrastructure space like Indus Towers Limited, ATC Group Companies, Bharti Infratel, GTL Infrastructure, Reliance Infratel, Tower Vision, Sterlite Technologies and Space Teleinfra, has also urged that penalty should not be charged on account of any delay in EB (Electricity Board) bill payment of telecom towers since bill receiving/ collection and payment is impacted due to lockdown. In a letter to Power Secretary Sanjiv Nandan Sahai, TAIPA said, "While the necessary support has been extended by the various State Electricity Distribution companies so far, we would further like to seek your support in ensuring uninterrupted EB supply for telecom towers, which is critical for continued operations of telecom services". Telecom is classified as critical service during the present lockdown, and businesses are relying heavily on work-from-home in the current circumstances, it said, adding that connectivity is the underlying backbone for various other services such as e-commerce, banking and finance, e-governance, e-education, healthcare, among others. It has said that telecom infrastructure providers should also be granted at least 45 days of grace period for EB bill payments. "In case of EB failure on telecom tower sites, restoration of EB to be ensured on priority and on an immediate basis since back-ups like battery may take time due to movement restrictions," TAIPA said. MBI RVK

You Searched For "New telecom bill" and got 12 results

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It's far harder to cancel a subscription than it is to sign up for one. A bill in Congress wants to change that.

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Google, Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook remain apprehensive about India’s new data laws but Paytm is open to regulation

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