🔗 Share this article

In a significant step, India's telecoms ministry has confidentially directed mobile phone manufacturers to preload all new devices with a government-backed cybersecurity app that cannot be deleted. This directive, which was revealed, is likely to alarm leading tech firms like Apple and raise questions among consumer watchdogs.

A Worldwide Shift in Cybersecurity Policy

To combat a rising tide of online fraud and phone theft, India is aligning with authorities across the globe. This action mirrors recent regulations framed in nations like Russia, which aim to prevent the use of lost phones for illicit activities and encourage state-backed service apps.

What Companies Are Bound by the Order?

The latest mandate affects major smartphone brands active in the Indian market. Among them are Apple, which has previously clashed with the telecom authority over comparable apps, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

The Fine Print of the Official Order

An directive dated 28 November gives smartphone manufacturers a three-month deadline to guarantee that the government's Sanchar Saathi application is included on all new devices. A key provision is that users are prevented from deleting the application.

For handsets currently in the distribution network, manufacturers are instructed to deliver the application via system patches. It is worth mentioning that this directive was privately circulated and was dispatched privately to specific firms.

Digital Rights Concerns Voiced

However, legal experts have flagged major concerns regarding this policy. A legal expert focusing in tech issues said that India's action is a worrying development.

“The government practically removes user consent as a meaningful choice,” stated Mishi Choudhary, an advocate working on internet advocacy matters.

Consumer organisations had previously questioned a similar requirement by Russia in August for a government-sponsored communication app to be pre-installed on phones.

The Size of the Domestic Market

India, one of the world's largest mobile markets, boasts more than 1.2 billion connections. Official data indicate that the Sanchar Saathi app, introduced in January, has reportedly helped recovering more than 700,000 lost phones, with approximately 50,000 found in October by itself.

The authorities contends that the app is essential to tackle the “significant endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which enable fraud and network abuse.

The Tech Giant's Stance

Apple's iOS powers an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million smartphones in India, with the rest using Android, according to market research. While Apple pre-installs its own proprietary applications on its devices, its company rules reportedly forbid the installation of any government app before the sale of a smartphone.

“Apple has historically refused these kinds of mandates from governments,” noted Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint.

“It’s likely to seek a middle ground: rather than a compulsory inclusion, they might negotiate and ask for an option to encourage users towards downloading the app.”

Queries for comment from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi were unresponded. India’s telecommunications department also offered no comment.

The Role of the IMEI and the App's Function

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a unique identification number assigned to each handset. It is primarily used by operators to block network access for phones flagged as lost.

The government app is chiefly created to enable users track and locate lost or stolen phones across all telecom networks, using a central registry. It also allows them to detect, and terminate, unauthorised mobile connections.

Impressive Adoption and Outcomes

With more than 5 million installs since its release, the app has reportedly helped disable more than 3.7 million missing mobile phones. Moreover, over 30 million fraudulent connections have also been disconnected through its use.

The government states that the tool aids in preventing digital threats and helps in the locating and disabling of lost or stolen phones, thereby aiding police in recovering handsets and keeping counterfeits out of the black market.