iPhone 8 is expected to be launched in September and priced around Rs 70,000. (Picture for representation purposes only)

Apple has recently faced criticism from India's telecom regulator Trai, who has accused the company of engaging in 'data colonisation' and being 'anti-consumer', reports the Times of India.

Trai says that the iPhone maker is not allowing customers to pass on details about telemarketing calls and spam messages to authorities and their mobile operators.

TOI reports that the provision of not having do-not-disturb (DND) over the iPhone has remained unresolved for over a year. This angered Trai's chairman RS Sharma, who went on to say that while Google's android platform supports the DND app, "Apple has just been discussing, discussing, and discussing. They have not done anything."

Last year in June, Trai had launched the DND app to enable the user to block unsolicited calls and messages.

The app can access SMS details and call records from an individual's phone and enable them to report straight to Trai on unwanted calls and messages.

The US tech giant has not allowed the app to access such information on its platform.

Sharma said that the company is violating the right of the user to share their data with the telecom regulator or with "any third party of his/her choice".

"If a customer wants to share financial transaction data with his/her bank, for getting a loan, why should it not be allowed?" Sharma said.

"This is what we call data colonisation," he added

The newspaper had sent a questionnaire to Apple over the issue to which it did not receive any response.