Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has written to Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Electronics and IT, highlighting the unethical practices of prediction-based opinion trading platforms like Probo and MPL Opinio. These platforms, resembling gambling, allow users to speculate on outcomes of future events such as sports matches and political developments. Engaging over five crore Indian users, they generate transaction volumes of over ₹50,000 crores annually. However, their advertisements often mislead users, leveraging influencer endorsements to falsely present opinion trading as a legitimate and low-risk activity. These promotions omit the speculative and high-risk nature of such trading, violating the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. CAIT emphasizes that intermediaries must prevent content encouraging gambling or user harm, as mandated under Rules 3(i)(b)(ii) and 3(1)(b)(xi). CAIT seeks immediate intervention to curb these deceptive practices and protect users from potential financial losses.
Confederation of All India Traders
(A. 11. of Trade Federation, Association & Non-Corporate Sector of India)
Ref. No.: 3606/1/76 Dated: 27th February, 2025
“Vyapar Bhawan”
925/1, Naiwala, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005.
Phone: +91-11-45032664, Telefax: +21-11,5032665
Email: teamcait@gmail.com Website: www.cait.in
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw,
Hon’ble Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, and Information and
Broadcasting
Government of India
Subject: Urgent Intervention Required to Address Misleading Practices by Opinion Trading Platforms and Contraventions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Dear Ashwini Ji
I hope this letter finds you well. I an writing to draw your attention to a pressing issue which impacts millions of citizens in our county — the availability of misleading and harmful advertisements for ‘prediction-based opinion trading’ platforms. In December last year, two leading media outlets- The Indian Express and CNBC-Awaazdid an in-depth analysis of the prevalence of these platforms and the culture of “digital satta” they enable.
Based on extensive evidence that I have reviewed, and would be happy to share with you, I believe this matter requires urgent intervention to prevent user harms and ensure compliance with our laws.
Prediction-based opinion trading platforms like Probo, MPL Opinio etc. operate as digital satta marketplaces where users can speculate on the outcomes of various future events, like sports matches, political developments, election results, cabinet formations, weather events, crypto prices, stock prices and economic decisions. I have annexed some screenshots at the end of my representation for your perusal.
These platforms have grown exponentially in recent years, engaging over five crore Indian users and registering over Rs. 50,000 crores in transaction volumes annually, and revenues projected to be around Rs. 1,000 crores for 2024-25. However, advertisements for prediction-based opinion trading platforms are deceptive and unlawful. Advertisements often:
3. Leverage Influencer-Endorsed Misrepresentation: Influencers on social media like Instagram and YouTube promote opinion trading as reliable income sources and omit the high-risk and speculative nature of opinion trading. Influencer promotions by accounts like “Fantasy Khabar” and “TECH 4 EARN” provide step-by-step guides and promise “unlimited money” without disclosing the speculative nature of the practice.
4. Misrepresent as Games of Skill: Platforms like Probo and MPL Opinio misrepresent opinion trading as a game of skill and portray it as a legitimate and regulated endeavour despite its resemblance to ‘gambling’ and ‘wagering on outcomes’.
These practices are unethical, and they directly contravene the following statutes:
- The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code), 2021: Intermediaries including social media intermediaries, significant social media intermediaries, cloud service providers, app stores shall make reasonable efforts by itself, and to cause the users of its computer resource to not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share any information that relates to or encourages moneylaundering or gambling, or an online game that causes user harm, under Rules 3(i)(b)(ii).
Intermediary due diligence under Rule 3(1)(b)(xi) requires them to make reasonable efforts by itself, and to cause the users of its computer resource to not host, display, upload,
