New Delhi’s consumer protection watchdog has fired off notices to six major e-commerce platforms for brazenly listing and selling prohibited wireless devices, including drones and GPS jammers. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) announced the action on Friday, signaling a zero-tolerance stance on illegal tech sales.
The targeted companies—Eversea, IndiaMart, Exboom, Javiet Aerospace, Airone Robotics, and Maverick Drones and Technologies Private Limited—were found promoting ‘anti-drone systems,’ ‘drone jammers,’ and ‘GPS jammers.’ These gadgets violate the Consumer Protection Act 2019, alongside key telecom and trade regulations.
Under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933, such signal-jamming tools fall under strict oversight from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Wireless Planning & Coordination (WPC) wings. Only licensed entities can handle them, and sales to civilians are outright banned.
CCPA’s directive demands full disclosure: sources of procurement, import licenses, invoices, regulatory approvals, legal basis for sales, buyer details, and unit sales over the past two years. Importing these falls under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act 1992, with permissions typically reserved for government and law enforcement agencies.
This isn’t the first rodeo. CCPA has previously cautioned e-commerce giants against facilitating illegal jammer trades. Under E-commerce Rules 2020, platforms must exercise due diligence and ensure legal compliance.
Violators face hefty penalties under multiple statutes. The move underscores India’s push to safeguard airspaces and telecom networks from unauthorized interference, protecting national security in an era of rising drone threats.