CCPA Cracks Down on Illegal Walkie-Talkies - Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Meta Fined ₹44 Lakh

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has initiated suo motu action against major e-commerce platforms for listing and selling unauthorised walkie-talkies , calling it a violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and telecom laws. The crackdown follows the identification of over 16,970 non-compliant listings across online marketplaces, where platforms were found facilitating the sale of Personal Mobile Radios (PMRs) operating outside the license-exempt frequency band (446.0–446.2 MHz) , without mandatory Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certification and without proper disclosure of licensing requirements. The CCPA issued notices to 13 entities including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart and Meta’s Facebook Marketplace, warning that consumers rely heavily on online descriptions and may unknowingly purchase regulated devices that expose them to legal risk.

In its final orders against eight entities, the CCPA imposed penalties totalling ₹44 lakh , with ₹10 lakh each slapped on Meesho, Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook Marketplace), Flipkart and Amazon, and ₹1 lakh each on Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro and MaskMan Toys. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said Meesho, Meta, Chimiya, JioMart and Talk Pro have already paid their dues, while payment from the remaining platforms is awaited. The investigation revealed serious non-compliance: Flipkart recorded 65,931 units sold where frequency details were blank or outside the exempted range; Amazon saw 2,602 units sold between January 2023 and May 2025 with hundreds of listings missing frequency or certification details; and Meesho logged large-scale sales through sellers who failed to disclose ETA certification or frequency specifications. Talk Pro was found listing devices operating across UHF 400–1200 MHz while falsely claiming they were “100 per cent legal” and “license-free,” while Chimiya was selling unapproved imported devices in the UHF 400–470 MHz band.

Rejecting intermediary claims, the CCPA ruled that platforms enabling listing, hosting, discovery and promotion of regulated products cannot be treated as passive conduits and must exercise stronger due diligence. To strengthen compliance, it notified the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment Guidelines, 2025 , mandating frequency verification, ETA checks before listing, clear disclosure of licensing requirements, and automated monitoring and takedown mechanisms. Platforms have also been directed to conduct self-audits , publish certificates online, and strengthen pre-listing compliance filters. The CCPA stressed that unauthorized radio communication devices can cause harmful interference with critical communication networks used by law enforcement and emergency services , posing a potential national security risk . Meanwhile, cases involving five other entities including IndiaMart and TradeIndia remain under investigation.