Global telecom regulators' collaboration needed to address mobile spam, scams: GSMA

Time of India

6 days ago

NEW DELHI:
Telecom regulators
globally need to collaborate to address the growing challenges of
mobile spam
and scams, which are negatively affecting subscriber experience and causing financial losses, according to
GSMA
.
'A lot of this scam happens across borders because domestic regulators can't act outside the border. But scammers use multiple, and sometimes different channels, to alter the conversation or scam flow. So they are changing jurisdictions, policies, and the regulations which govern them,' Julian Gorman, head of Asia Pacific (APAC), GSMA, told ETTelecom at a virtual media briefing Monday.
'We also need to step up our game, and collaborate across different platforms, and the participants must ensure that stakeholders come together to address this challenge,' Gorman added. 'What's happening in India (in regulations) is providing a useful reference point around the world.'
Lately,
telecom carriers
globally, including India, have begun using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)-driven solutions to identify and combat pesky messages and calls, in a bid to improve mobile user experience. However, scam and
spam communications
have gradually moved to OTT communication service platforms, where regulations are not as stringent, telcos allege.
According to GSMA, to combat scam, telcos are adopting innovative strategies, including aligning with the GSMA Open Gateway initiative with standardised APIs that leverage AI to detect and block scams, and enable new AI-powered tools such as SIM Swap, Device Location Verification, and others.
The London-based telco industry association estimates the size of the global scam economy to be $1 trillion, of which the APAC region has a nearly $700 million share.
While GSMA did not divulge specific data for the Indian market, third-party research estimates show that nearly half of the messages received by about 1.10 billion subscribers are spam.
'This (APAC) forms a significant portion. It's important that we act nationally, collectively, and across borders to share information so that we can combat scam scale together,' Gorman said during the media briefing.
The top executive said that it is the collective responsibility of telecom carriers and OTT communication service platforms to keep the digital platforms safe. 'We must embrace the responsibility to keep our digital world safe and secure and protect the vulnerable. We should make sure that we have a fully inclusive digital world,' he said.