CCPA Penalises Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Meta and Others for Illegal Sale of Walkie-Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms

Many devices were found operating in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, which is a regulated spectrum used by police, emergency services and disaster-response agencies.

In a major crackdown on illegal online trade in regulated communication equipment, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken suo motu cognisance of the large-scale illegal listing and sale of walkie-talkies (Personal Mobile Radios – PMRs) on e-commerce platforms and imposed monetary penalties on leading online marketplaces for violations of consumer protection and telecom laws.

The action follows the identification of over 16,970 non-compliant walkie-talkie listings across multiple platforms. Notices were issued to 13 e-commerce entities, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, Meta (Facebook Marketplace), Talk Pro, Chimiya, MaskMan Toys, IndiaMART, TradeIndia, Antriksh Technologies, Vardaanmart and Krishna Mart.

Serious Violations of Telecom and Consumer Laws

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. Consumers were not informed about:

• The radio frequency range of the devices

• Whether a government licence was required

• Whether the device had obtained Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), a mandatory certification issued through the Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) Wing

Many devices were found operating in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, which is a regulated spectrum used by police, emergency services and disaster-response agencies. Several listings falsely advertised products as “license-free” or “100% legal”, while others were sold as toys despite offering communication ranges of up to 30 kilometres.

Regulatory Framework Ignored

The sale, import and use of walkie-talkies in India are governed by:

• The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885

• The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933

• 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 licence-exempt—and even these require ETA certification before sale or import. Non-compliance also amounts to 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 Recurrence

To prevent future violations, 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 that platforms must:

• Verify frequency compliance before allowing listings

• Ensure ETA certification prior to sale

• Clearly disclose licensing requirements

• Prohibit misleading claims such as “license-free” or “100% legal”

• Deploy automated monitoring and takedown systems

Platforms Penalised

The CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Smt. Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Shri Anupam Mishra, has issued final orders in eight cases:

• ₹10 lakh penalty each on

  • Meesho (Fashnear Technologies Pvt. Ltd.)

  • Flipkart Internet Pvt. Ltd.

  • Amazon Seller Services Pvt. Ltd.

  • Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook Marketplace)

• ₹1 lakh penalty each on

  • Chimiya

  • JioMart

  • Talk Pro (Iconet Services Pvt. Ltd.)

  • MaskMan Toys

Proceedings against IndiaMART, TradeIndia, Antriksh Technologies, Vardaanmart and Krishna Mart are at various stages of investigation or hearing.

Key Findings Across Platforms

• Chimiya sold UHF 400–470 MHz devices imported from abroad without ETA or frequency verification

• JioMart sold 58 units over two years without licensing disclosures

• Talk Pro falsely advertised wide-band devices (400–1200 MHz) as “license-free”

• Meesho enabled large-scale sales, including 2,209 units by a single seller, without effective compliance checks

• MaskMan Toys marketed high-range walkie-talkies as toys without regulatory disclosures

• Flipkart saw 65,931 units sold with missing or incorrect frequency information

• Facebook Marketplace hosted repeated illegal listings, leading to 710 takedowns after CCPA intervention

• Amazon recorded 467 non-compliant listings and 2,602 units sold without statutory disclosures

Intermediary Defence Rejected

Some platforms claimed intermediary protection, arguing that sellers were responsible. The CCPA rejected this defence, clarifying that platforms enabling the listing, promotion and sale of regulated products must exercise due diligence and cannot escape liability.

Public Safety and National Security Concerns

The Authority cautioned that unauthorised radio equipment can interfere with critical communication systems used by law-enforcement, emergency responders and disaster-management agencies, posing serious risks to public safety, public order and national security.

Compliance Directions Issued

All platforms have been directed to:

• Prevent listing or sale of radio equipment without statutory approvals

• Conduct regular self-audits

• Publish compliance certificates

• Ensure accurate and complete disclosures for regulated products

Reaffirming its mandate, the CCPA stated that consumer trust in digital marketplaces depends on truthful information and lawful trade, and warned that violations will invite strict enforcement.

(Final orders are available on the CCPA website.)