Holding service provider accountable for telecom fraud sets legal precedent

A signboard of 4G is seen at a branch of China Mobile in Shanghai, Dec 28, 2013. [Photo/IC]

A court in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, has ordered a Chinese telecom carrier to compensate a 75-year-old man, who lost 480,000 yuan ($77,300) in a telecom fraud case two years ago, as it failed to show the swindler's real caller ID. The verdict is reportedly the first of its kind in the country. Comments:

Holding the aforementioned carrier accountable is neither groundless nor wrongful. A telecommunications service provider is morally obligated to protect its paying users by keeping fraudsters at bay. Further revisions to the relevant laws and regulations governing the telecom industry are needed to define a carrier's legal responsibilities.

Xinmin Evening News, July 14

The accused carrier failed to intercept the fraudulent call and also failed to reveal to the receiver the caller's ID, breaching its contract with the customer by failing to perform its due responsibilities. The first verdict against a telecom provider is of great significance to the country's rule of law, despite the not-so-much compensation offered.

Xinkuaibao newspaper, July 14

The rampancy of telecom fraud reflects the poor supervision over the industry. Of course, the swindlers are constantly improving their tricks, which makes fraud cases harder to spot and prevent, dealing a blow to both the credibility of the telecom industry and users' legal interests. Nevertheless, the service providers should take more responsibility for telecom frauds.

eastday.com, July 14

The Guangzhou court's verdict is a classic case of its kind, and it has set a legal precedent for similar cases. It is also conducive to sealing the loopholes in the operation and management of the country's telecom industry, as holding the carriers responsible for the service they provide will cut off the illegal money-for-power deals behind the scenes, and make carriers better protect users.

Legal Daily, July 15