🔗 Share this article

In a notable move, India's telecoms ministry has discreetly asked mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install all new phones with a state-owned cybersecurity tool that is non-removable. This directive, which was revealed, is likely to alarm major technology firms like Apple and raise questions among consumer watchdogs.

A Worldwide Pattern in Cybersecurity Regulation

To combat a recent surge of online fraud and hacking, India is following governments across the globe. This step parallels comparable rules enacted in nations like Russia, which are designed to prevent the use of lost phones for fraud and promote government-developed applications.

What Manufacturers Are Impacted by the Order?

The recent order binds key smartphone brands operating in the domestic market. These include Apple, a company that has previously locked horns with regulators over comparable apps, as well as leaders like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Specifics of the Official Mandate

An order dated 28 November allots smartphone manufacturers a three-month period to ensure that the official Sanchar Saathi app is included on all new mobile phones. A critical condition is that users cannot disable the application.

For phones currently in the supply chain, manufacturers are instructed to deliver the app via system patches. It is worth mentioning that this order was not made public and was dispatched selectively to specific companies.

User Consent Apprehensions Voiced

However, legal analysts have raised serious worries regarding this decision. A legal expert focusing in technology issues said that India's action is a worrying development.

“The government effectively removes user consent as a real choice,” stated Mishi Choudhary, an expert working on digital advocacy issues.

Privacy advocates had also criticised a comparable mandate 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 biggest mobile markets, boasts more than 1.2 billion connections. Government data indicate that the cybersecurity app, introduced in January, has already assisted in recovering more than 700,000 lost phones, with approximately 50,000 found in October alone.

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

The Tech Giant's Position

Apple's iOS powers an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million smartphones in India, with the rest using Android, as per industry analysis. While Apple pre-installs its own first-party applications on its devices, its company policies are said to ban the installation of any third-party app before the sale of a device.

“Apple has in the past resisted these kinds of mandates from governments,” noted Tarun Pathak, a analyst at Counterpoint.

“It’s likely to pursue a negotiated solution: instead of a forced inclusion, they might discuss and propose an option to nudge users towards installing the app.”

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

The Role of the IMEI and the App's Purpose

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a 14- to 17-digit number unique to each handset. It is typically used by carriers to block network access for phones reported as lost.

The Sanchar Saathi application is primarily intended to enable users block and locate lost or stolen smartphones across all telecom networks, using a central database. It also allows them to spot, and disconnect, illegal mobile connections.

Impressive Usage and Results

With over 5 million downloads since its inception, the app has already been used to disable over 3.7 million missing mobile phones. Additionally, over 30 million fraudulent connections have also been disconnected through its use.

The authorities states that the app aids in combating cyberthreats and assists in the tracking and blocking of missing phones, thereby helping police in recovering handsets and keeping counterfeits out of the illicit trade.