Bhubaneswar: Different telecom operators have disconnected more than 50,000 fake mobile phone connections in Odisha.
According to a release by Ministry of Communications on Tuesday, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) had implemented artificial intelligence (AI)-based facial recognition tool, ASTR, for telecom SIM subscriber verification. The DoT implemented the tool for suspected misuse of the mobile phones for illegal activities.
It identified 52,088 suspected mobile connections in Odisha. On the direction of the department, those suspected mobile connections were re-verified by the telecom operators. As many as 51,260 connections were found to be not bonafide during the process and disconnected.
Besides, 2,417 point of sales SIM sellers were involved in fraudulent activities and blacklisted. The DoT Odisha has lodged police complaints for investigation and taking action against the culprits.
These steps were taken to help prevent the usage of such fake/forged mobile connections for various illegal activities including cyber crimes in Odisha, the release stated.
