🔗 Share this article

In a notable move, India's telecoms ministry has confidentially instructed mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install all new handsets with a national cybersecurity application that cannot be deleted. This order, which has come to light, is likely to concern leading tech companies like Apple and prompt concerns among digital rights groups.

An International Pattern in Cybersecurity Policy

In tackling a growing wave of online fraud and phone theft, India is following authorities internationally. This action echoes similar measures enacted in countries like Russia, which are designed to prevent the use of stolen phones for illicit activities and encourage state-backed tools.

What Manufacturers Are Affected by the Directive?

The latest mandate binds key mobile phone companies operating in the domestic market. This encompasses Apple, a company that has previously clashed with regulators over comparable applications, as well as leaders like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Details of the Government Order

An directive dated 28 November gives phone companies a three-month window to ensure that the official Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed on all new handsets. A notable stipulation is that owners are prevented from deleting the software.

For handsets currently in the supply chain, makers are required to push the application via system patches. It is worth mentioning that this directive was not made public and was sent privately to specific manufacturers.

Digital Rights Apprehensions Raised

However, technology specialists have raised major apprehensions regarding this policy. A lawyer focusing in tech matters commented that India's action is a reason to worry.

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

Privacy advocates had earlier condemned a similar mandate by Russia in August for a state-backed messenger app to be included on phones.

The Scope of the Indian Smartphone Landscape

India, among the world's largest mobile markets, boasts over 1.2 billion subscribers. Government figures indicate that the Sanchar Saathi application, introduced in January, has reportedly assisted in recovering more than 700,000 lost phones, with an estimated 50,000 found in October by itself.

The government states that the software is vital to fight the “grave endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from cloned or tampered IMEI numbers, which are used for fraud and system misuse.

The Tech Giant's Likely Response

Apple's iOS runs on an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million smartphones in India, with the vast majority using Android, as per market research. While Apple includes its own proprietary apps on its devices, its internal policies are said to forbid the inclusion of any third-party app before the sale of a smartphone.

“Apple has in the past refused such demands from authorities,” noted Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint.

“It’s expected to pursue a compromise: instead of a compulsory pre-install, they might discuss and propose an option to prompt users towards downloading the app.”

Requests for response from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi went unresponded. India’s telecommunications ministry also remained silent.

Understanding the IMEI and the App's Function

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a 14- to 17-digit number unique to each handset. It is primarily used by operators to block network access for phones flagged as stolen.

The government application is mainly intended to enable users block and track lost or stolen phones across all mobile carriers, using a central registry. It also allows them to spot, and terminate, fraudulent mobile connections.

Impressive Adoption and Results

With more than 5 million installs since its release, the software has reportedly been used to disable more than 3.7 million missing mobile phones. Additionally, over 30 million illegal connections have also been blocked through its use.

The authorities asserts that the app helps combating cyberthreats and assists in the tracking and disabling of lost or stolen phones, thereby aiding police in recovering devices and preventing counterfeits out of the illicit trade.