🔗 Share this article

In a major move, India's telecommunications department has confidentially asked mobile phone makers to preload all new devices with a government-backed cybersecurity app that is non-removable. This directive, which was revealed, is expected to alarm leading tech firms like Apple and raise concerns among digital rights groups.

An International Trend in Cybersecurity Policy

To combat a rising tide of digital scams and device misuse, The Indian authorities is aligning with governments across the globe. This move parallels comparable measures framed in countries like Russia, which seek to curb the use of stolen phones for scams and promote government-developed tools.

Which Companies Are Bound by the Directive?

The new mandate affects leading smartphone makers operating in the domestic market. This encompasses Apple, which has previously clashed with the telecom authority over similar applications, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

The Fine Print of the Government Mandate

An directive dated 28 November provides phone companies a 90-day period to guarantee that the official "Messenger Friend" application is included on all new handsets. A key stipulation is that consumers cannot disable the application.

For handsets currently in the supply chain, companies are required to send the app via system upgrades. It is important that this order was privately circulated and was communicated selectively to chosen firms.

Digital Rights Apprehensions Raised

However, legal experts have flagged significant worries regarding this policy. A lawyer specialising in technology law commented that India's step is a reason to worry.

“The government practically removes user consent as a meaningful choice,” said Mishi Choudhary, an expert working on internet rights issues.

Privacy advocates had previously condemned a comparable requirement by Russia in August for a government-sponsored messenger called Max to be included on phones.

The Scale of the Domestic Smartphone Landscape

India, one of the world's largest telephone markets, boasts more than 1.2 billion connections. Official statistics indicate that the Sanchar Saathi application, launched in January, has reportedly helped tracking down more than 700,000 lost phones, with around 50,000 found in October by itself.

The authorities argues that the app is essential to fight the “significant endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from cloned or tampered IMEI numbers, which facilitate fraud and network misuse.

The Tech Giant's Likely Response

Apple's iOS runs on an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million mobile phones in India, with the vast majority using Android, as per industry analysis. While Apple pre-installs its own first-party apps on its devices, its company rules are said to forbid the inclusion of any third-party app before the purchase of a smartphone.

“Apple has in the past declined these kinds of mandates from authorities,” noted Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint.

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

Queries for comment from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi went unanswered. India’s telecoms department also remained silent.

The Role of the IMEI and the App's Purpose

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a 14- to 17-digit number assigned to each mobile device. It is most commonly used by carriers to block network access for phones flagged as lost.

The Sanchar Saathi application is mainly created to enable users block and track lost or stolen smartphones across all mobile carriers, using a national database. It also allows them to identify, and block, fraudulent mobile connections.

Impressive Usage and Results

With over 5 million downloads since its release, the app has reportedly been used to disable over 3.7 million missing mobile phones. Moreover, over 30 million fraudulent connections have also been blocked through its use.

The government asserts that the tool helps preventing digital threats and helps in the tracking and disabling of missing phones, thereby helping police in tracing handsets and keeping counterfeits out of the illicit trade.