All of this is being done under the guise of countering telemarketing and providing for a spam-free SMS inbox for consumers. Why stop there? Why not have ad-free newspapers and TV programmes? Slap surcharges all over the place to make life better for consumers. And who decides what is good for the consumers and for the society?
All this is of a piece. Like the Planning Commission deciding Rs 32 as the daily poverty threshold. Like the I&B Ministry sits and deciding which TV programmes are offensive so it can shut out some of the TV channels. Like TRAI deciding SMS are injurious to our health and should be eliminated. Given half an opportunity, who would not like to play God?
Who cares about companies operating in this area? SMSes are ‘pesky’ and the biggest ill threatening the good life. So the companies sending SMSes must be pullled back with regulatory obstacles in the name of consumer good.
Continued tomorrow.
