TRAI Proposes Strict Accountability for Telecom Companies Over Artificial Intelligence Failures

Telecom companies like Airtel, Jio, and Vodafone Idea will face direct responsibility for any failures in the artificial intelligence they use under new draft rules proposed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. Released on Friday, the draft states that operators must report serious AI failures and critical incidents directly to the regulator. The guidelines apply to any entity holding a licence under the Telegraph Act, 1885, or an authorisation under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. Stakeholders have until November 27 to submit their comments on the proposal.

Internal Controls

Under the proposed framework, company boards must approve an internal AI policy and file it with TRAI within seven working days. This policy must detail how systems are graded by risk, how incidents are classified, and how customer complaints are resolved. Operators must also establish an AI Governance and Safety Committee led by a senior executive acting as the safety officer. Furthermore, no AI system can run unless it is listed on the company inventory, and firms must secure details of embedded AI from equipment vendors.

Current Uses

Major telecom operators already rely on automated systems across their networks. Airtel runs tools to flag spam calls, block malicious links, and protect against OTP fraud. Jio utilizes its in-house platform, JioBrain, for fault prediction and network optimization. Vodafone Idea deploys automated systems for spam detection and runs its Vi Protect initiative to defend against cyber threats.

Context

India currently lacks a dedicated statute governing artificial intelligence, relying instead on existing frameworks like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. This regulatory move arrives as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology prepares its own consultation paper on AI regulation, which is expected to shape national policy in this sector.