Wed Jan 15 11:29:19 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Seeks Centre’s Response on Caller ID Service to Combat Cybercrime

**New Delhi** – The Supreme Court of India has sought a response from the central government regarding the urgent implementation of a caller name display service (CNAP) to combat the escalating problem of cybercrime and spam calls. The court’s directive follows a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Bengaluru resident Gowrishankar S, highlighting the significant toll these unsolicited calls take on citizens, banks, and law enforcement.

The PIL points out that while the Department of Telecommunications and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recognize CNAP as a crucial tool to fight cybercrime, there’s been a lack of concrete implementation plan for the past two and a half years. Mr. Gowrishankar, a 43-year-old finance professional and NGO founder, argues that the absence of a clear timeline is unacceptable given the alarming rise in cybercrime and associated financial losses and distress.

CNAP, a service that displays the caller’s name directly on the phone screen, is seen as a vital step in combating fraudulent calls. While apps like Truecaller offer similar functionality, CNAP provides a built-in solution. However, the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI), representing major telecom providers like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, has opposed making CNAP mandatory, citing concerns about handset compatibility, privacy, and data confidentiality. The Supreme Court’s intervention now puts the onus on the central government to address these concerns and outline a clear path towards implementing CNAP nationwide.

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