What are the various efforts being taken to mitigate caller ID spoofing?

Sub: Sci

Sec: Awareness in IT and Computer

Context:

What is caller ID spoofing?

Caller ID spoofing is a technique with which the phone number that a call appears to originate from can be falsified.
Spoofing techniques have been honed by enthusiasts, telemarketers, and fraudsters alike, over the years.
It is used to carry out social engineering attacks, where the spoofed caller ID is abused for the implicit trust that the receiving party associates with it.
As per Department of Telecommunication(DOT), using spoofed call service is illegal as per the Indian Telegraph Act, Sec 25(c).

What are the efforts undertaken to mitigate caller ID spoofing?

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 2021 provided a reference using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) based authentication which could be implemented by Indian telecom operators to fix caller ID spoofing for good.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had earlier recommended to telecom operators to integrate a system known as Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) which allows consumers to know who is calling them in a way similar to TrueCaller.
DoT is reportedly in the process of launching a pilot of the CNAP project.
DoT has devised a system to “identify and block” international calls with a manipulated Calling Line Identity (CLI) and has issued directions to telecom operators to prevent such calls from reaching subscribers.
Section 20 of The Telecommunications Act, 2023 empowers the Government to take “temporary possession of any telecommunication service or telecommunication network from an authorized entity” for “any public emergency, including disaster management, or in the interest of public safety.”

What is the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)?

The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies.
It was established on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, significantly predating the UN and making it the oldest UN agency.
It has a membership of 193 countries and more than 1000 companies, universities and international and regional organizations.

What is Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)?

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was established in 1997 under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
TRAI regulates telecom services including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier vested in the Central Government.
It also aims to provide a fair and transparent policy environment which promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair competition.