🔗 Share this article

In a notable move, India's telecommunications department has confidentially instructed mobile phone makers to include all new handsets with a state-owned cybersecurity app that is non-removable. This directive, which was revealed, is set to alarm leading tech firms like Apple and raise concerns among privacy advocates.

A Global Trend in Digital Security Regulation

Addressing a rising tide of online fraud and phone theft, India is aligning with authorities worldwide. This action mirrors comparable regulations introduced in nations like Russia, which are designed to block the use of stolen phones for fraud and promote state-backed tools.

What Manufacturers Are Affected by the Directive?

The latest order affects leading smartphone companies active in the Indian market. Among them are Apple, which has in the past locked horns with regulators over comparable apps, as well as leaders like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Specifics of the Official Order

An order dated 28 November allots phone companies a 90-day period to ensure that the official Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed on all new devices. A notable stipulation is that users will not be able to remove the app.

For devices currently in the distribution network, companies are instructed to push the app via software patches. It is notable that this order was not made public and was dispatched privately to select firms.

User Consent Apprehensions Expressed

However, legal analysts have flagged significant worries regarding this policy. A lawyer specialising in tech issues said that India's action is a reason to worry.

“The government effectively eliminates user consent as a real choice,” said Mishi Choudhary, an advocate working on digital rights matters.

Consumer organisations had earlier questioned a similar mandate by Russia in August for a government-sponsored messenger app to be pre-installed on phones.

The Size of the Domestic Smartphone Landscape

India, one of the world's biggest mobile markets, boasts over 1.2 billion subscribers. Official data reveal that the Sanchar Saathi app, launched in January, has reportedly assisted in recovering more than 700,000 lost phones, with approximately 50,000 found in October by itself.

The government contends that the tool is essential to fight the “serious endangerment” of mobile network cybersecurity from duplicate or tampered IMEI numbers, which facilitate scams and system abuse.

Apple's Likely Response

Apple's iOS powers an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million smartphones in India, with the vast majority using Android, as per industry analysis. While Apple includes its own first-party apps on its devices, its internal rules are said to prohibit the installation of any third-party app before the purchase of a smartphone.

“Apple has in the past resisted these kinds of demands from governments,” commented Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint.

“It’s expected to aim for a compromise: instead of a compulsory inclusion, they might negotiate and propose an option to prompt users towards installing the application.”

Requests for comment from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi went unresponded. India’s telecommunications ministry also did not respond.

The Role of the IMEI and the Application's Purpose

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

The Sanchar Saathi application is chiefly created to help users block and locate lost or stolen smartphones across all telecom networks, using a central registry. It also enables them to spot, and block, illegal mobile connections.

Impressive Usage and Results

With more than 5 million downloads since its inception, the software has already helped disable more than 3.7 million missing mobile phones. Furthermore, over 30 million illegal connections have also been disconnected through its use.

The government asserts that the tool helps preventing cyberthreats and helps in the locating and disabling of lost or stolen phones, thereby aiding police in tracing handsets and preventing counterfeits out of the illicit trade.