Truecaller cooperating with info regulator's Popia probe. Truecaller says it is cooperating with the Information Regulator's ongoing Popia probe in South Africa. A probe by the Information Regulator into caller identity app Truecaller regarding its alleged violation of the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia) is still ongoing, the company has confirmed. Speaking to TechCentral in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Mmathebe Zvobwo, director for market development in South Africa at Truecaller, said the company has complied with the regulator's requests. "On the Popia front, yes, the Information Regulator did approach us, and they let us know their intention to investigate us. They gave us a complaint and asked for a submission, which we made," Zvobwo said. TechCentral in November 2024 reported that the Information Regulator had launched an inquiry into Truecaller after receiving a complaint from an unnamed third party. The complaint accused Truecaller of "multiple violations of Popia". Zvobwo declined to detail the specific accusations against Truecaller, but made it clear that they did not pertain to the sharing of user data with unauthorised third parties. When asked if Truecaller did indeed violate the sections of Popia as accused by the unnamed complainant, Zvobwo said the regulator is yet to make a call on that. "The investigation is ongoing, and they haven't got to a point where they tell us their findings," she said. Expanded offering. Truecaller has continued to expand its product offering in the South African market. Two of its most recent new features are an AI-powered call screening feature and a family facility that allows one person to manage Truecaller functionality centrally on behalf of their loved ones. Although screening unwanted calls is a key objective of the new feature, Zvobwo said decreasing the number of legitimate calls that go unanswered is another important objective for Truecaller. Data from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance shows South Africans were inundated by 30 billion spam calls and 1.6 billion scam calls in 2025. Zvobwo said the overwhelming of volume of spam and scam interactions have led to dismissive attitudes among South Africans, with many opting not to answer phone calls from unknown numbers at all, choosing rather to wait for a follow-up e-mail or text if it's important. "By default, people are no longer answering their calls," she said. The family plan allows one person to use Truecaller to manage spam and scam calls for up to four additional devices. Zvobwo said the aim of the feature is to allow those who are more tech savvy - typically younger generations like millennials and Gen Z - to help their less sophisticated loved ones, especially the elderly, manage spam-related traffic. Similar features have been launched by device manufacturers, the most notable being Apple, which introduced an AI call-screening feature with iOS 26 in September 2025. Asked if Truecaller fears being cannibalised by manufacturers and telecommunications carriers that could build similar features, Zvobwo said Trucaller's device-agnostic approach has allowed it to garner more than 450 million users globally, giving it a scale advantage that few can compete with. The Information Regulator's investigation continues to hang over the company, despite positive market advancements. Zvobwo said it may be years before the process reaches a conclusion. "Our stance is to allow the process to continue and let the regulator let us know what we need to do. We will always be collaborative to try and find a way to understand where South Africa is from a policy perspective," she said. - (C) 2026 NewsCentral Media

National Commission for Women, Truecaller collaborate to strengthen women's online safety. March 25, 2026 The National Commission for Women (NCW) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Truecaller to launch a nationwide women's Digital Safety awareness initiative. The collaboration was announced at a ceremony held at sushma swaraj bhawan. This partnership establishes a structured framework for coordinated action aimed at enhancing awareness of the evolving digital risks faced by women, while strengthening pathways to institutional redressal, including improved access to the NCW's 24x7 helpline. As part of the initiative, NCW and Truecaller have jointly developed and launched an interactive digital safety resource titled 'TrueCyberSakhi: A Digital Safety Toolkit, Created for Her'. The toolkit is designed to promote informed and confident digital participation by equipping women and the wider public with practical knowledge to navigate online spaces safely. It features interactive modules, including quizzes and self-assessment tools, along with simplified explanations of key digital safety concerns such as spam, phishing, impersonation, harassment, and financial fraud. The resource also provides actionable guidance, structured best practices, and practical do's and don'ts to encourage safer communication habits. Importantly, the toolkit highlights the NCW's 24x7 helpline, providing clear guidance on when and how women can seek institutional support and access redressal mechanisms in cases of digital harm. Further strengthening this initiative, Truecaller has verified the NCW 24x7 helpline number on its Government Directory Service (GDS). This step enhances the trust, authenticity, and visibility of the official support channel for women across the country. The verification will enable citizens to confidently identify the official helpline, reduce the risk of impersonation or fraud, and ensure timely access to support through an authenticated government contact point. The initiative is also supported by a coordinated digital and social media awareness campaign to amplify key messages around women's online safety, responsible digital participation, and access to redressal mechanisms. Speaking at the launch, representatives of both organisations reiterated their shared commitment to strengthening digital trust and empowering women with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate online spaces safely. Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, Chairperson, National Commission for Women said, "The National Commission for Women is committed to ensuring that women can participate safely and confidently in digital spaces. This collaboration with Truecaller will enable us to reach women across the country with practical guidance on recognising and responding to online threats, while strengthening awareness of the NCW 24x7 helpline as a trusted support channel. This initiative reaffirms our resolve to address the evolving challenges faced by women in the digital age." Rishit Jhunjhunwala, Chief Executive Officer, Truecaller said, "Safety in digital communication is foundational to enabling women's full and confident participation in the digital economy. Through this partnership, we aim to make official support channels more visible, accessible, and easy to navigate for women across the country, contributing to a safer and more trusted digital ecosystem."

National Commission for Women and Truecaller join forces to advance Women's Digital Safety. Mar 25, 2026 The National Commission for Women (NCW) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Truecaller to launch a nationwide Women's Digital Safety Awareness Initiative. The collaboration was formally announced at a ceremony held at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan. Launch of "TrueCyberSakhi: Digital Safety Toolkit" a collaboration between the National Commission for Women (NCW) and Truecaller This partnership establishes a structured framework for coordinated action aimed at enhancing awareness of the evolving digital risks faced by women, while strengthening pathways to institutional redressal, including improved access to the NCW's 24x7 helpline. As part of the initiative, NCW and Truecaller have jointly developed and launched an interactive digital safety resource titled "TrueCyberSakhi: A Digital Safety Toolkit, Created for Her." The toolkit is designed to promote informed and confident digital participation by equipping women and the wider public with practical knowledge to navigate online spaces safely. It features interactive modules, including quizzes and self-assessment tools, along with simplified explanations of key digital safety concerns such as spam, phishing, impersonation, harassment, and financial fraud. The resource also provides actionable guidance, structured best practices, and practical do's and don'ts to encourage safer communication habits. Importantly, the toolkit highlights the NCW's 24x7 helpline, providing clear guidance on when and how women can seek institutional support and access redressal mechanisms in cases of digital harm. Further strengthening this initiative, Truecaller has verified the NCW 24x7 helpline number on its Government Directory Service (GDS). This step enhances the trust, authenticity, and visibility of the official support channel for women across the country. The verification will enable citizens to confidently identify the official helpline, reduce the risk of impersonation or fraud, and ensure timely access to support through an authenticated government contact point. The initiative is also supported by a coordinated digital and social media awareness campaign to amplify key messages around women's online safety, responsible digital participation, and access to redressal mechanisms. Speaking at the launch, representatives of both organisations reiterated their shared commitment to strengthening digital trust and empowering women with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate online spaces safely. Smt. Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, stated, "The National Commission for Women is committed to ensuring that women can participate safely and confidently in digital spaces. This collaboration with Truecaller will enable us to reach women across the country with practical guidance on recognising and responding to online threats, while strengthening awareness of the NCW 24x7 helpline as a trusted support channel. This initiative reaffirms our resolve to address the evolving challenges faced by women in the digital age." Mr. Rishit Jhunjhunwala, Chief Executive Officer, Truecaller, stated, "Safety in digital communication is foundational to enabling women's full and confident participation in the digital economy. Through this partnership, we aim to make official support channels more visible, accessible, and easy to navigate for women across the country, contributing to a safer and more trusted digital ecosystem." About the National Commission for Women The NCW is an autonomous statutory body established under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, with the mandate, inter alia, to protect and promote the rights of women by reviewing safeguards, recommending legal reforms, addressing complaints, promoting awareness, and advising the Government on policy matters affecting women. About Truecaller Truecaller is the leading app for Caller ID and spam blocking worldwide, with over 350 million users in India and 450 million globally. It has undertaken a wide range of safety initiatives to ensure trust and safety in digital communication. It also aims to address the evolving challenges of digital fraud through collaboration with law enforcement agencies, central and state government institutions, and industry partners.