Hogar Technologies fined by CCPA for misleading walkie-talkie ads

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹1,00,000 penalty on Hogar Technologies and Innovations LLP for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices regarding walkie-talkies. The regulator found that the company failed to provide adequate disclosures concerning operating frequencies, licensing requirements, and conditions for lawful use in its product listings on its website and social media.

Hogar Technologies argued that it held valid regulatory approvals and that its website functioned primarily as an information portal rather than a direct sales platform. However, the CCPA ruled that the absence of a shopping cart does not exempt promotional representations from consumer protection laws, noting that omissions can mislead consumers regarding regulatory compliance.

This action is part of a broader crackdown by the CCPA on non-compliant online listings. The authority has identified over 16,970 non-compliant listings across major e-commerce platforms and has issued notices to 13 entities, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Meta, JioMart, IndiaMART, and TradeIndia. To date, the CCPA has passed final orders against 12 entities, resulting in cumulative penalties of ₹58 lakh.