Truecaller claims it's protecting rights, not violating them

Call screening app Truecaller is rejecting claims that its app harms businesses, saying every individual has a "fundamental right to know who is calling them and the company enables their users to exercise it".

- Faizel Patel

The Information Regulator is investigating complaints against Truecaller from several companies and individuals for allegedly violating the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia).

South Africans use the app extensively to identify unknown calls, especially from call centre agents.

However, companies have complained the Truecaller app harms their businesses because it flags their numbers and charges a fee to whitelist them.

Truecaller denied the allegations. An official Truecaller spokesperson said its mission is to "empower users and make their communication safe and trustworthy".