🔗 Share this article

In a major decision, India's telecommunications authority has confidentially asked smartphone companies to include all new devices with a state-owned cybersecurity app that must remain installed. This order, which has been disclosed, is expected to alarm major tech firms like Apple and prompt concerns among privacy advocates.

A Worldwide Shift in Cybersecurity Policy

In tackling a growing wave of digital scams and hacking, The Indian authorities is following governments across the globe. This step mirrors comparable rules enacted in countries like Russia, which are designed to prevent the use of stolen phones for fraud and promote state-backed service apps.

Which Companies Are Affected by the Order?

The recent order affects key mobile phone makers active in the Indian market. Among them are Apple, which has in the past had disagreements with the telecom authority over similar applications, as well as leaders like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Specifics of the Official Mandate

An order dated 28 November provides smartphone companies a three-month period to guarantee that the official "Messenger Friend" application is pre-installed on all new handsets. A key provision is that owners cannot disable the software.

For handsets already in the supply chain, companies are directed to send the application via system updates. It is worth mentioning that this directive was sent confidentially and was sent selectively to specific firms.

Digital Rights Apprehensions Voiced

However, legal specialists have flagged significant worries regarding this decision. A legal expert focusing in technology law commented that India's directive is a reason to worry.

“The government effectively eliminates user consent as a genuine choice,” said Mishi Choudhary, an advocate working on digital rights matters.

Digital rights groups had previously criticised a similar requirement by Russia in August for a government-sponsored messenger app to be pre-installed on phones.

The Scale of the Domestic Market

India, among the world's biggest mobile markets, boasts more than 1.2 billion connections. Official statistics indicate that the cybersecurity application, introduced in January, has reportedly helped locating over 700,000 stolen phones, with approximately 50,000 found in October by itself.

The government states that the software is crucial to tackle the “serious 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 runs on an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million mobile phones in India, with the vast majority using Android, as per industry analysis. While Apple pre-installs its own proprietary apps on its devices, its company guidelines reportedly ban the installation of any government app before the purchase of a smartphone.

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

“It’s likely to seek a compromise: rather than a compulsory pre-install, they might discuss and propose an option to encourage users towards installing the app.”

Queries for response from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi went unanswered. India’s telecommunications department also offered no comment.

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 mobile device. It is primarily used by networks to cut off cellular access for phones reported as stolen.

The government application is chiefly designed to help users block and locate lost or stolen smartphones across all mobile carriers, using a central registry. It also allows them to detect, and disconnect, fraudulent mobile connections.

Impressive Usage and Results

With more than 5 million downloads since its inception, the app has reportedly been used to block over 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones. Furthermore, more than 30 million illegal connections have also been disconnected through its use.

The authorities states that the app helps preventing cyberthreats and assists in the locating and disabling of lost or stolen phones, thereby helping police in recovering devices and keeping counterfeits out of the black market.