CCPA Cracks Down on Illegal Sale of Walkie-Talkies Online; Penalties Imposed on Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and Meta
Notices were issued to 13 entities, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook Marketplace), Talk Pro, Chimiya, MaskMan Toys, India Mart, TradeIndia, Antriksh Technologies, Vardaanmart and Krishna Mart.
New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken suo motu cognisance of the large-scale unauthorised listing and sale of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms and imposed monetary penalties on leading digital marketplaces for violations of consumer protection and telecom regulations.
The action follows the identification of over 16,970 non-compliant listings of walkie-talkies, also referred to as Personal Mobile Radios (PMRs), across multiple online platforms. Notices were issued to 13 entities, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook Marketplace), Talk Pro, Chimiya, MaskMan Toys, India Mart, TradeIndia, Antriksh Technologies, Vardaanmart and Krishna Mart.
Sale of Regulated Devices Without Mandatory Disclosures
The Authority found that several platforms were facilitating the sale of walkie-talkies operating on restricted and sensitive radio frequency bands without mandatory statutory approvals or disclosures. Product listings failed to inform consumers about the operating frequency range, licensing requirements, or whether the devices had obtained mandatory Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Department of Telecommunications.
Many devices were found to operate in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, which is used by police, emergency services and disaster response agencies. Several products were misleadingly advertised as “license-free” or “100% legal”, despite requiring government approval. In some instances, devices were marketed as toys while offering communication ranges of up to 30 kilometres, far exceeding permissible limits.
Regulatory Framework and Legal Violations
The sale, import and use of walkie-talkies in India are governed by the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885; the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933; and the Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices Rules, 2018. Only devices operating strictly within the 446.0–446.2 MHz band are exempt from licensing, and even these require ETA certification prior to sale or import.
The CCPA held that non-compliance with these provisions constitutes misleading advertisement, unfair trade practice and deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and violates the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020.
New Guidelines to Prevent Illegal Listings
To prevent recurrence, the Authority has notified the Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment including Walkie-Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025, in consultation with the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The guidelines mandate verification of frequency compliance, confirmation of ETA certification, clear disclosure of licensing requirements, prohibition of misleading claims, and deployment of automated monitoring and takedown systems.
Penalties and Platform-Specific Findings
Final orders have been issued in eight cases. Penalties of ₹10 lakh each were imposed on Meesho, Flipkart, Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd and Meta Platforms Inc., while ₹1 lakh each was imposed on Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro and MaskMan Toys. Proceedings against Antriksh Technologies, India Mart, TradeIndia, Vardaanmart and Krishna Mart are ongoing.
The Authority rejected claims by certain platforms that they were mere intermediaries, clarifying that e-commerce entities enabling the listing and promotion of regulated products cannot evade responsibility without demonstrating due diligence.
Public Safety and National Security Concerns
The CCPA underlined that unauthorised radio devices can cause harmful interference with communication systems used by law-enforcement agencies and emergency services, posing serious risks to public safety and national security. It reiterated that misleading online listings undermine consumer trust and expose buyers to legal and regulatory risks.
Reaffirming its commitment to consumer protection and fair digital commerce, the Authority directed platforms to conduct regular self-audits, publish compliance certificates and ensure that regulated wireless equipment is sold only in full compliance with applicable laws.
