Taking stock of the “serious problem” of automatic video downloads without consumers’ knowledge, telecom regulator Trai declared that it may come up with technological solutions to tackle these unsolicited online advertisements that lead to “data shock” for users.
Trai had conducted a session in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad on the issue on “unsolicited downloads and background actioning of data” where officials of technology companies including Google and Facebook also participated.
Trai Chairman R S Sharma mentioned that this was a serious problem as it leads to “data shock” with users consuming data without being aware of it. Besides technology solution, consumers also need to be made aware of options available to them to block the auto downloading of such videos, he added.
Sharma indicated that Trai would prefer to take the route of technology tools and awareness, rather than regulation to overcome the problem.
On the controversial issue of free data, for which the regulator conducted an open house yesterday to get industry’s opinion, Sharma said that Trai will form its views in a “couple of weeks”.
In Free Data, the regulator is exploring models to give consumers free Internet service within the ‘Net Neutrality’ framework, after barring platforms like Facebook’s Free Basics and Airtel Zero under its differential pricing rule.
Earlier this year, Trai sought public views on whether there is a need to have telecom service provider-agnostic platform to provide free data or suitable reimbursement to users, without violating ‘Net Neutrality’ principles.
By Baishakhi Dutta
