India Deactivates 80 Lakh Fraudulent SIM Cards

In a significant crackdown on cybercrime, the Indian government has deactivated over 80 lakh SIM cards issued with fraudulent documents, utilizing AI tools to identify and block these fraudulent registrations. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance security in telecommunications, which also includes blocking 6.78 lakh mobile numbers linked to criminal activities. Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasized the cooperation between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs in this operation. Concurrently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has implemented new policies, including Message Traceability Rules and stricter blocking guidelines, aimed at reducing spam and fraudulent communications. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has also blocked over 5,000 mobile numbers involved in fraud, reflecting a regional effort to combat similar issues. Collectively, these measures signal a robust response to the increasing threat of cybercrime in both nations.