The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has fined leading e-commerce platforms Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and Facebook Marketplace (Meta) for allowing the sale of unauthorised walkie-talkies online, citing risks to consumer safety and national security.
The CCPA has imposed penalties totalling ₹44 lakh after a suo motu investigation found widespread violations in the online sale of personal mobile radios (PMRs).
The probe uncovered nearly 17,000 listings of walkie-talkies that were sold without mandatory approvals, proper frequency details or licensing information. Under Indian rules, walkie-talkies are licence-free only if they operate strictly within the 446.0–446.2 MHz frequency band. Devices outside this band require prior approval under the Equipment Type Approval (ETA) framework.
According to the regulator, several listings failed to meet these requirements, with incomplete or misleading product information provided to buyers.
Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook Marketplace) were fined ₹10 lakh each
Smaller penalties of ₹1 lakh each were imposed on Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro and MaskMan Toys
Meesho, Meta, Chimiya, JioMart and Talk Pro have already paid the penalties, while payments from the remaining platforms are awaited.
The CCPA noted that Flipkart hosted thousands of listings with incorrect or missing frequency disclosures. Amazon sold around 2,600 units during the review period itself.
Some sellers were also found making misleading claims. Talk Pro advertised its devices as “100 percent legal” and “licence-free”, while Chimiya sold imported walkie-talkies without the required statutory approvals.
Several platforms argued that they were only intermediaries and could not be held responsible for what sellers listed. The CCPA rejected this defence, stating that platforms which actively facilitate listing, discovery and promotion of regulated products cannot be treated as passive intermediaries.
Intermediary protections apply only when platforms carry out effective due diligence, the authority said.
Following the crackdown, the CCPA has notified fresh guidelines for listing and selling radio equipment online. Framed with inputs from the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the rules require platforms to verify frequency compliance and approvals before allowing listings, ensure full disclosure to consumers, and use automated monitoring systems.
The authoirty also flagged national security risks, warning that unauthorised radio devices can interfere with communications used by police, emergency services and disaster response agencies. Investigations into other platforms, including IndiaMart and TradeIndia, are still ongoing.
