TRAI issues guidelines to Access Service Providers to prevent misuse of messaging services
Introduction
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on 20th August 2024 issued directives requiring Access Service Providers to adhere to the specific guidelines to protect consumer interests and prevent fraudulent activities. TRAI has mandated all Access Service Providers to abide by the directives. These steps advance TRAI's efforts to promote a secure messaging ecosystem, protecting consumer interests and eliminating fraudulent conduct.
Key Highlights of the TRAI’s Directives
- For improved monitoring and control, TRAI has directed that Access Service Providers move telemarketing calls, beginning with the 140 series, to an online DLT (Digital Ledger Technology) platform by September 30, 2024, at the latest.
- All Access Service Providers will be forbidden from sending messages that contain URLs, APKs, OTT links, or callback numbers that the sender has not whitelisted, the rule is to be effective from September 1st, 2024.
- In an effort to improve message traceability, TRAI has made it mandatory for all messages, starting on November 1, 2024, to include a traceable trail from sender to receiver. Any message with an undefined or mismatched telemarketer chain will be rejected.
- To discourage the exploitation or misuse of templates for promotional content, TRAI has introduced punitive actions in case of non-compliance. Content Templates registered in the wrong category will be banned, and subsequent offences will result in a one-month suspension of the Sender's services.
- To assure compliance with rules, all Headers and Content Templates registered on DLT must follow the requirements. Furthermore, a single Content Template cannot be connected to numerous headers.
- If any misuse of headers or content templates by a sender is discovered, TRAI has instructed an immediate ‘suspension of traffic’ from all of that sender's headers and content templates for their verification. Such suspension can only be revoked only after the Sender has taken legal action against such usage. Furthermore, Delivery-Telemarketers must identify and disclose companies guilty of such misuse within two business days, or else risk comparable repercussions.
CyberPeace Policy Outlook
TRAI’s measures are aimed at curbing the misuse of messaging services including spam. TRAI has mandated that headers and content templates follow defined requirements. Punitive actions are introduced in case of non-compliance with the directives, such as blacklisting and service suspension. TRAI’s measures will surely curb the increasing rate of scams such as phishing, spamming, and other fraudulent activities and ultimately protect consumer's interests and establish a true cyber-safe environment in messaging services ecosystem.
The official text of TRAI directives is available on the official website of TRAI or you can access the link here.
References
- https://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/Direction_20082024.pdf
- https://www.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/PR_No.53of2024.pdf
- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2046872
- https://legal.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/regulators/trai-issues-directives-to-access-providers-to-curb-misuse-fraud-through-messaging/112669368
Related Blogs
Executive Summary
A video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being shared on social media with the claim that he disrespected the national anthem by continuing to walk while it was being played. The CyberPeace Research Wing’s investigation found that the claim is false. The audio heard in the viral clip has been added separately to the original footage, creating a misleading impression about what was happening in the video.
Claim
An X user shared the video claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued walking during the national anthem, thereby disrespecting it.
https://x.com/sudhirkummar123/status/2089044275665535414?s=20
Fact Check
To verify the claim, the Desk conducted a reverse image search using keyframes from the viral video. The search led us to a longer version of the footage uploaded on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official YouTube channel on June 21, 2025. We reviewed the longer video and found that the audio in the viral clip does not match the original footage. The original video does not feature the national anthem being played. Instead, a female announcer on the stage can be heard asking the gathering to welcome Prime Minister Modi upon his arrival in Siwan, Bihar. The description accompanying the original video also states that people gave Prime Minister Modi a warm welcome upon his arrival in Siwan.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YhBryZZwlIk
The investigation also found several media reports published on June 20, 2025, which reported that Modi had visited Siwan ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections and inaugurated or laid the foundation stones for development projects worth around Rs 5,900 crore. News18 report on PM Modi’s Siwan visit
The original footage therefore establishes that the scene was related to Modi’s welcome in Siwan and not to the playing of the national anthem.
Conclusion
The claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi disrespected the national anthem by walking during its rendition is false. The original footage does not contain the national anthem. The audio heard in the viral clip has been added separately to the video, creating a false impression about the incident.
Introduction
With the modernization of automobiles, so have the methods employed by criminals who seek to commit thefts. The old method of smashing a car window or bypassing an engine lock is no longer prevalent. Modern car thieves employ cloning techniques for keys and digital signals, and sophisticated methods to commit crimes without any traces left behind. In an era where intelligence is crucial, the forensic examination of car keys has become an indispensable tool for investigations, providing clues buried within ordinary car keys.
The Need for Car Key Forensics Today
Daily, thousands of cars worth millions are being hacked or stolen around the globe. The shocking thing is that most of these hacks do not have any sign of breakage or forced entry. It is because the thieves use vulnerabilities in the wireless key systems to unlock the vehicles without leaving any trace behind. Therefore, car-key forensics has now become more important than ever before.
Forensic Value of Smart Key
The smart key is not just comprised of locking and unlocking features for vehicles. Actually, it operates as a miniature computer within the key itself. Information such as pairing records, frequency of use, or the last instance that the key was used to unlock something could be contained in smart keys, thus offering evidence of any criminal activity conducted using these items.
Patterns of Vehicle Theft
Through the examination of the chip in a key, one will be able to establish whether the key was legally programmed or had been tampered with by some other means. Such forensics become more important when trying to detect and monitor any car theft rings, which employ cloning machines or software.
Confirming Ownership and Authenticity
In cases involving insurance claims or fraud, smart key data can help confirm whether the person making a claim actually owned or used the car during the incident. It’s digital proof that goes beyond what paperwork or statements can show.
Strengthening Legal Cases
When brought to court, data doesn’t lie. A properly handled forensic examination of a car key can provide hard evidence — the kind that holds up under questioning and supports or disproves claims with complete accuracy. In many cases, this small device becomes the most reliable witness in the investigation.
A Real-Life Example
Consider the following scenario: An expensive SUV is stolen from a parking lot secured with security surveillance. No one is captured on camera and there is no sign of forced entry. After days of investigation, the police end up arresting a suspect with a smart key.
During forensic analysis of the smart key, it is revealed that:
- The transponder has an ID number which can be matched against the immobilizer installed in the vehicle.
- The rolling code counter has been incremented in such a way that the date corresponds with the report of theft of the vehicle.
- The extracted information helps match the pair timestamp of the key with the particular make and model of the vehicle.
All this from a single piece of evidence – the smart key.
Inside a Smart Key: Where the Data Lives
An average smart key is not only a remote but also a multi-level set of data carriers:
- Plastic Shell– could include serial numbers and information on the manufacture.
- Battery – helps calculate the time of using the key or detect any modifications.
- Antenna Coil – sends encrypted information to the immobilizer of a car. Draw the picture of this element.
- Microchip / EEPROM – holds key identification code, rolling code, VIN number, and/or other information of the vehicle.
- Buttons / sensors – could record any pressing or transmission actions in some cases.
All the little devices above, once properly studied via forensics software, provide valuable information.
How the Investigator Uncovers the Truth
In relation to investigating the true story about a vehicle, it is no different than handling other forms of digital evidence, as forensic analysts treat the car key in the same way. It is nothing more than an encrypted device in your hands, and using special techniques, they are able to reveal the information contained within the device.
Some of the methods used by modern forensic laboratories include:
1. Intercepting Radio Signals
Any intelligent key transmits radio signals to communicate with a car. Specialists employ advanced antennas and radio frequency (RF) analysers to catch and analyse them. This way, it is possible to understand the interaction between the key and the car – how often was it used, what kind of authentication procedure takes place, and if the signal matches the car’s one or has been forged somehow.
2. Checking Out the Key’s Brain (Analysis of EEPROM)
There is always a special chip on the key that is responsible for its activity. The chip contains an important memory module (EEPROM – Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), which holds various data, including key IDs and rolling codes. It can be carefully retrieved via advanced tools. Thus, it is possible to determine whether somebody tried to tamper with the key.
3. The Correlation between the Key and Car’s Information
The information stored inside the key will not be used separately since investigators will correlate the key's data with that of the vehicle itself (ECU and immobilizer). If the two kinds of information coincide, the investigation may conclude that the key belongs to the vehicle. Otherwise, this may mean either cloning or tampering.
4. Identifying the Tampering and Cloning Evidence
As was mentioned above, thieves sometimes resort to using unlawful programming devices for duplicating smart car keys. In order to detect possible cloning, experts examine the key using various diagnostic devices to find out whether the keys were modified by changing the encryption code, frequencies, and hardware itself.
At the end of the process, some kind of miracle occurs because of the following: all actions committed with this particular key become documented, recorded inside the device itself. Even if someone tries to hide anything or remove any information concerning this particular incident, there will always remain some data.
Car Key Forensics in the Future
The evolution of cars to connect with other devices and adopt self-driving technologies requires new investigative methods to be used for vehicle-related crimes. Advanced car keys or smartphone apps that replace physical keys will likely incorporate biometric authentication, cloud integration, or blockchain records of key activity in the near future.
Such improvements will pose several threats and offer many benefits:
- Artificial intelligence tools can determine if the car key is cloned based on its behaviour pattern.
- Blockchain validation ensures all key-related activities are recorded and cannot be altered.
- Cyber-forensic protocols will become increasingly necessary for investigating criminal activity related to vehicles.
Car key forensics technology will not only allow solving crimes but may become instrumental in crime prevention.
Conclusion
A car key in this era is more than just an unlocking mechanism; it is a miniature data storage facility, which can yield information about the user, intentions, and access rights. The more cars become technologically advanced, the more the examination of smart keys becomes necessary as part of correlating physical evidence with digital investigation. It clearly indicates how small objects such as keys can play pivotal roles in cracking cases.
Executive Summary:
A video is going viral on social media claiming to show family members mourning the death of Iddo Netanyahu, brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, an research by the CyberPeace found that the claim being shared with the video is false. The video has been available on the internet since 2024. According to available information, it shows the funeral of an Israeli soldier who was killed in an attack in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza.Moreover, no credible news reports were found confirming the death of Iddo Netanyahu.
Claim:
An Instagram user shared the viral video with an English caption stating, “Family members are crying after the death of Iddo Netanyahu was confirmed.”
Fact Check:
During the investigation, we found the original video on an X (formerly Twitter) account named Warfare Analysis. The video was posted on October 12, 2024, confirming that it predates the recent Iran-Israel conflict. Notably, the “Warfare Analysis” logo is also visible in the viral video. According to the caption, the footage shows the funeral of Israeli soldier Netanel Hershkovit, who was killed on October 11, 2024, in an attack by Al-Qassam in Jabalia, northern Gaza.
A report published by VIN News on October 12, 2024, also covered the funeral of Netanel Hershkovit and included statements from his family members.
Conclusion:
Our research found that the claim shared with the video is false. The video has been online since 2024 and shows the funeral of an Israeli soldier killed in northern Gaza. Additionally, no credible reports confirm the death of Iddo Netanyahu.
