The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has penalised Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and Meta for illegal sale of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms, identifying over 16,900 non-compliant listings violating telecom and consumer laws.
New Delhi- The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken stringent action against the unauthorised online sale of walkie-talkies across multiple e-commerce platforms, imposing monetary penalties on leading marketplaces for misleading consumers and violating consumer protection and telecom regulations.
Acting suo motu, the Authority identified over 16,900 non-compliant listings of walkie-talkies, also known as Personal Mobile Radios (PMRs), being sold illegally on online platforms. Notices were issued to 13 e-commerce entities, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart and Meta (Facebook Marketplace), among others.
The CCPA found that several platforms were facilitating the sale of walkie-talkies operating on restricted radio frequency bands, without mandatory statutory approvals or proper disclosures. Many listings failed to inform consumers about the operating frequency, licensing requirements, or Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certification issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). In several cases, products were falsely advertised as “license-free” or “100% legal”, despite requiring government authorisation.
Investigations revealed that a large number of devices operated in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, which is a regulated spectrum used by police, emergency services, disaster response agencies and other critical communication networks. Some walkie-talkies were even sold as toys, despite having communication ranges of up to 30 kilometres, raising serious regulatory and safety concerns.
The sale and use of such devices in India are governed by the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Low Power and Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices Rules, 2018. Under these rules, only devices operating strictly within the 446.0–446.2 MHz band are exempt from licensing, and even these require ETA certification prior to import or sale.
The Authority held that non-disclosure of such critical information amounts to misleading advertisement, unfair trade practice and deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and also violates the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020.
To prevent recurrence, the CCPA 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 (DoT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The guidelines mandate platforms to verify frequency compliance, ensure ETA certification, clearly disclose licensing requirements, prohibit misleading claims and deploy automated monitoring systems to remove illegal listings.
Final orders have been issued in eight cases, including against Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Meta Platforms Inc., JioMart, Talk Pro, Chimiya and MaskMan Toys, while proceedings against several other entities are ongoing.
The CCPA imposed penalties of ₹10 lakh each on Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and Meta, and ₹1 lakh each on Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro and MaskMan Toys. Some platforms have already deposited the penalty amounts, while recovery from others is underway.
Rejecting the claim that e-commerce platforms are merely intermediaries, the Authority clarified that platforms facilitating the listing and promotion of regulated products cannot evade responsibility without demonstrating effective due diligence and compliance mechanisms.
Highlighting public safety and national security concerns, the CCPA warned that unauthorised radio equipment can interfere with vital communication systems used by law enforcement and emergency services. The Authority reiterated its commitment to protecting consumer rights and ensuring a safe, transparent and compliant digital marketplace, urging all platforms to strictly verify regulatory approvals before listing radio communication devices.
