🔗 Share this article

In a notable move, India's telecommunications authority has discreetly asked mobile phone companies to pre-install all new handsets with a national cybersecurity app that must remain installed. This mandate, which has been disclosed, is likely to concern major technology companies like Apple and raise concerns among privacy advocates.

A Global Trend in Cybersecurity Regulation

In tackling a growing wave of cybercrime and device misuse, The Indian authorities is joining authorities across the globe. This action echoes recent measures framed in countries like Russia, which aim to curb the use of stolen phones for fraud and push government-developed applications.

Which Manufacturers Are Bound by the Order?

The recent mandate applies to key smartphone makers active in the domestic market. Among them are Apple, which has previously clashed with regulators over comparable apps, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

The Fine Print of the Official Order

An directive dated 28 November gives smartphone manufacturers a 90-day period to ensure that the government's "Messenger Friend" application is factory-loaded on all new mobile phones. A critical stipulation is that users cannot disable the app.

For phones already in the supply chain, makers are directed to send the application via software updates. It is important that this directive was privately circulated and was sent selectively to chosen manufacturers.

User Consent Worries Voiced

However, technology analysts have raised serious worries regarding this policy. A legal expert specialising in tech law commented that India's step is a worrying development.

“The government effectively eliminates user consent as a meaningful choice,” said Mishi Choudhary, an expert working on digital rights issues.

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

The Size of the Domestic Smartphone Landscape

India, among the world's biggest telephone markets, boasts over 1.2 billion connections. Official figures show that the Sanchar Saathi app, launched 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 argues that the app is essential to fight the “significant endangerment” of mobile network cybersecurity from cloned or tampered IMEI numbers, which are used for illicit activities and system abuse.

Apple's Stance

Apple's iOS powers an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million mobile phones in India, with the vast majority using Android, as per industry analysis. While Apple includes its own proprietary apps on its devices, its company guidelines reportedly prohibit the inclusion of any third-party application before the sale of a smartphone.

“Apple has in the past refused such mandates from governments,” commented Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint.

“It’s expected to pursue a compromise: rather than a forced inclusion, they might discuss and propose an alternative to nudge users towards downloading the application.”

Requests for response from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi were unresponded. India’s telecommunications ministry 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 assigned to each handset. It is typically used by carriers to disable cellular access for phones flagged as lost.

The Sanchar Saathi app is primarily designed to help users block and locate lost or stolen smartphones across all telecom networks, using a central database. It also allows them to detect, and disconnect, fraudulent mobile connections.

Notable Adoption and Results

With more than 5 million downloads since its inception, the app has already helped block over 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones. Moreover, over 30 million fraudulent connections have also been terminated through its use.

The authorities asserts that the software aids in preventing cyberthreats and assists in the locating and disabling of missing phones, thereby helping police in tracing handsets and keeping counterfeits out of the black market.