🔗 Share this article

In a significant step, India's telecommunications department has privately directed smartphone manufacturers to include all new phones with a national cybersecurity app that is non-removable. This directive, which has been disclosed, is likely to antagonise major technology firms like Apple and raise concerns among privacy advocates.

A Worldwide Shift in Digital Security Regulation

Addressing a rising tide of online fraud and hacking, The Indian authorities is joining authorities across the globe. This move echoes similar rules framed in countries like Russia, which are designed to prevent the use of lost phones for illicit activities and push state-backed service apps.

What Manufacturers Are Affected by the Order?

The new directive affects key smartphone makers operating in the Indian market. These include Apple, which has in the past clashed with regulators over comparable apps, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Specifics of the Government Mandate

An directive dated 28 November provides smartphone companies a 90-day window to ensure that the official "Messenger Friend" application is pre-installed on all new mobile phones. A notable stipulation is that users are prevented from deleting the app.

For phones currently in the distribution network, manufacturers are instructed to deliver the app via software upgrades. It is notable that this order was privately circulated and was communicated in confidence to specific companies.

Privacy Worries Voiced

However, technology experts have flagged significant apprehensions regarding this decision. A lawyer specialising in tech issues commented that India's directive is a worrying development.

“The government in essence removes user consent as a real choice,” stated Mishi Choudhary, an advocate working on internet rights issues.

Consumer organisations had previously questioned a comparable requirement by Russia in August for a government-sponsored messenger called Max to be pre-installed on phones.

The Scope of the Indian Smartphone Landscape

India, one of the world's biggest telephone markets, boasts over 1.2 billion mobile users. Official data show that the cybersecurity app, launched in January, has reportedly helped locating over 700,000 lost phones, with an estimated 50,000 found in October alone.

The authorities argues that the software is essential to fight the “grave endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from cloned or spoofed IMEI numbers, which facilitate scams and system misuse.

The Tech Giant's Stance

Apple's iOS runs on an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million smartphones in India, with the rest using Android, as per market research. While Apple pre-installs its own proprietary applications on its devices, its company policies reportedly ban the installation of any government application before the purchase of a device.

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

“It’s expected to seek a compromise: rather than a mandatory pre-install, they might discuss and ask for an alternative to nudge users towards installing the app.”

Queries for response from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi were unanswered. India’s telecoms ministry also did not respond.

Understanding the IMEI and the App's Function

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a 14- to 17-digit number assigned to each mobile device. It is primarily used by operators to disable cellular access for phones flagged as stolen.

The government application is mainly intended to help users block and track lost or stolen phones across all telecom networks, using a national database. It also enables them to detect, and block, unauthorised mobile connections.

Impressive Adoption and Outcomes

With more than 5 million downloads since its launch, the app has already been used to block over 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones. Moreover, over 30 million illegal connections have also been blocked through its use.

The authorities states that the software helps preventing cyberthreats and helps in the locating and blocking of lost or stolen phones, thereby aiding police in recovering handsets and keeping counterfeits out of the black market.