Government Crackdown: E-Commerce Giants Fined for Selling Unauthorized Walkie-Talkies Violating 2019 Consumer Protection Act

NEW DELHI– The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has penalized eight e-commerce companies including Amazon, Flipkart, and Meta for the unauthorized sale of walkie talkies, totalling ₹44 lakh. The e-commerce companies committed violations of both telecom laws and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 by selling walkie talkies with over 16,970 non-compliance listings.

The CCPA fined Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, and Meta ₹10 lakh each while JioMart, Talk Pro, Chimiya, and MaskMan Toys received ₹1 lakh penalties each. The violations were related primarily to the sale of devices using frequencies that operate outside the license-exempt bands (446.0–446.2 MHz) and selling devices without the required Equipment Type Approval (ETA). Specifically, Flipkart was selling over 65,000 units without the proper frequency number or illegal frequency numbers.

Conclusion
The CCPA‘s penalties show that the Government of India is committed to enforcing strict national security and consumer safety regulations. The CCPA has disregarded the “Intermediary” defense and made marketplaces responsible for vetting regulated technology before allowing them on their platforms. Accordingly, beginning with new guidelines issued in 2025, all radio equipment on e-commerce sites must show verification of compliance with frequency and regulatory approvals, thereby preventing e-commerce marketplaces from making or selling unauthorized products.