🔗 Share this article

In a notable move, India's telecoms ministry has confidentially instructed smartphone companies to pre-install all new devices with a national cybersecurity application that cannot be deleted. This order, which was revealed, is expected to concern leading technology firms like Apple and prompt questions among privacy advocates.

A Global Shift in Digital Security Regulation

Addressing a recent surge of digital scams and phone theft, India is joining governments across the globe. This move parallels similar rules framed in countries like Russia, which aim to curb the use of stolen phones for scams and encourage official service apps.

Which Manufacturers Are Affected by the Order?

The new order applies to major smartphone companies operating in the domestic market. This encompasses Apple, a company that has previously locked horns with regulators over comparable apps, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Details of the Official Order

An order dated 28 November gives smartphone companies a 90-day window to guarantee that the government's "Messenger Friend" app is factory-loaded on all new mobile phones. A key stipulation is that owners are prevented from deleting the software.

For phones already in the distribution network, companies are required to deliver the app via software patches. It is notable that this order was not made public and was sent selectively to specific companies.

User Consent Concerns Expressed

However, legal experts have raised significant concerns regarding this decision. A lawyer focusing in tech issues said that India's step is a worrying development.

“The government effectively removes user consent as a meaningful choice,” commented Mishi Choudhary, an expert working on internet advocacy issues.

Privacy advocates had also questioned a comparable requirement by Russia in August for a state-backed messenger app to be pre-installed on phones.

The Scale of the Indian Market

India, among the world's largest telephone markets, boasts over 1.2 billion connections. Official data reveal that the Sanchar Saathi application, introduced in January, has reportedly helped locating more than 700,000 lost phones, with around 50,000 recovered in October alone.

The authorities argues that the app is vital to combat the “serious endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from fake or spoofed IMEI numbers, which facilitate fraud and network abuse.

The Tech Giant's Stance

Apple's iOS runs on an approximate 4.5% of the 735 million smartphones in India, with the vast majority using Android, as per market research. While Apple pre-installs its own proprietary applications on its devices, its company guidelines reportedly prohibit the inclusion of any government app before the purchase of a smartphone.

“Apple has traditionally declined these kinds of requests from governments,” commented Tarun Pathak, a analyst at Counterpoint.

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

Requests for comment from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi were unresponded. India’s telecoms department also did not respond.

Understanding the IMEI and the Application's Function

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a 14- to 17-digit number unique to each mobile device. It is primarily used by networks to disable network access for phones flagged as lost.

The government application is mainly designed to help users track and locate missing phones across all mobile carriers, using a national database. It also lets them to identify, and terminate, fraudulent mobile connections.

Notable Usage and Results

With more than 5 million installs since its launch, the app has already helped disable over 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones. Additionally, more than 30 million illegal connections have also been blocked through its use.

The government claims that the software helps preventing digital threats and helps in the locating and blocking of missing phones, thereby helping police in recovering devices and keeping cloned devices out of the illicit trade.