In a major push to curb spam and scam calls, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is preparing to roll out an AI-driven enforcement framework that could allow mobile numbers to be disconnected without any consumer complaint.
Under the proposed rules, if a telecom operator’s artificial intelligence system flags a number as “potential spam” continuously for 10 days, the connection may be suspended or terminated directly. The move marks a significant departure from the current mechanism, which requires at least five user complaints within 10 days before any formal action can begin.
Officials familiar with the proposal said the shift is aimed at closing a massive gap between suspected spam activity and actual consumer reporting. While telecom companies detect tens of crores of suspicious calls every month, formal complaints run into only a few thousand.
“With AI-based monitoring, action will no longer depend solely on users filing complaints,” an official said. “The system will proactively identify abuse patterns and initiate action at an early stage.”
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Round-the-clock monitoring of call behaviour
Under the new framework, telecom operators will deploy AI tools to analyse call frequency, duration and behavioural patterns in real time. Red flags include unusually high outbound calls, extremely short call durations, and repeated attempts to reach large batches of numbers.
If such indicators persist over a 10-day period, the number can be categorised as suspicious and disconnected — either temporarily or permanently — without any formal grievance from subscribers.
Regulators believe this automated approach will be far faster and more effective than the existing complaint-led model, which often allows fraudulent operations to continue for weeks before action is taken.
Safeguards for gig workers
The tougher stance has also raised concerns about delivery agents, cab drivers and freelancers, who routinely make dozens of calls every day as part of their work.
TRAI has clarified that safeguards are being built into the system to prevent genuine users from being caught in the dragnet. Consultations with industry stakeholders are underway, and additional parameters — including call context, time of day and recipient profiles — are expected to be incorporated into AI models to differentiate legitimate business activity from spam behaviour.
Unregistered telemarketers in focus
The regulator is particularly targeting unregistered 10-digit telemarketing numbers, which are frequently used for scams and unsolicited promotions.
Major operators such as Airtel have already deployed large-scale AI filters that have flagged billions of spam calls. TRAI now plans to formalise these technologies within a regulatory framework, making advanced spam detection mandatory across the telecom sector.
Officials said the objective is to dismantle the infrastructure that enables mass fraud calls, rather than merely responding after consumers are affected.
Action before complaints
Once the new framework comes into force, the role of subscribers will be significantly reduced. While complaints are currently mandatory to trigger investigations, AI-driven surveillance will soon be able to initiate enforcement independently.
This means spam numbers could be removed from networks at an early stage, potentially disrupting fraud operations before they reach large numbers of victims.
Cyber and telecom experts say the move could prove critical in weakening organised scam networks and reducing the burden on consumers, who are currently required to lodge repeated Do Not Disturb (DND) complaints.
TRAI officials said the proposal is still being fine-tuned, with feedback being sought from industry players and consumer groups. The regulator’s stated goal is clear: a technology-led crackdown on spam calls and meaningful relief for India’s mobile users.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
