AI tool and new KYC rules: DoT cracks down on fake mobile connections

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has developed an AI-based tool to identify mobile connections obtained through fake documents, leading to the disconnection of 78.33 lakh connections. 

Additionally, 6.78 lakh connections linked to cybercrime were disconnected. To strengthen the KYC process, DoT has mandated telecom service providers to register their Point of Sale (PoS) agents, enforce biometric and police verification and implement penalties for non-compliance. 

The department has also introduced a new business connections framework and discontinued paper-based KYC, effective from January 2024, to improve subscriber identity verification. 

This was announced by Minister Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in the Lok Sabha.