Amazon, Flipkart & Others Delist Walkie-Talkie After Govt’s Advice
In a move to prevent the unauthorized sale of radio communication devices online, the Centre has issued guidelines for the prevention of unauthorised sale of radio communication devices online. As a result, e-commerce giants like Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, and others have removed flagged walkie-talkie listings from their websites.
The government’s guidelines mandate the sale of walkie-talkies operating within permitted frequency bands, which are used by government bodies for official communication. The move is aimed at preventing the sale of devices that can interfere with communication systems used by government bodies and other essential services.
The guidelines were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in consultation with the Home Ministry and other concerned authorities. The guidelines specify that only walkie-talkies operating within the frequency bands allocated by the DoT can be sold online.
The e-commerce platforms have removed the flagged listings from their websites to comply with the government’s guidelines. A spokesperson for Flipkart said, “We have removed the flagged listings from our website and will only allow the sale of walkie-talkies that comply with the government’s guidelines.”
Amazon has also taken similar action, stating that it has removed the flagged listings from its website and will only allow the sale of walkie-talkies that meet the government’s requirements. “We take the security and integrity of our customers’ data and communication systems very seriously, and we will only allow the sale of walkie-talkies that comply with the government’s guidelines,” said an Amazon spokesperson.
Meesho, a popular e-commerce platform for affordable electronics, has also removed the flagged listings from its website. “We are committed to complying with the government’s guidelines and will only allow the sale of walkie-talkies that meet the required standards,” said a Meesho spokesperson.
JioMart, the e-commerce arm of Reliance Industries, has also taken similar action. “We have removed the flagged listings from our website and will only allow the sale of walkie-talkies that comply with the government’s guidelines,” said a JioMart spokesperson.
The move by the government and e-commerce platforms is aimed at preventing the misuse of walkie-talkies, which can be used for criminal activities such as theft, looting, and terrorism. The devices can also be used to disrupt essential services such as emergency response systems, hospitals, and power grids.
The government’s guidelines are expected to bring some much-needed regulation to the online sale of walkie-talkies, which has been a concern for law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders. The guidelines are also expected to promote the sale of walkie-talkies that meet global standards and are used for legitimate purposes.
In conclusion, the delisting of walkie-talkie listings by Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, and other e-commerce platforms is a positive step towards preventing the unauthorized sale of radio communication devices online. The government’s guidelines are aimed at promoting the sale of walkie-talkies that meet global standards and are used for legitimate purposes, and the e-commerce platforms have taken the necessary steps to comply with the guidelines.
