🔗 Share this article

In a major step, India's telecoms ministry has privately instructed smartphone companies to pre-install all new devices with a state-owned cybersecurity tool that is non-removable. This order, which has been disclosed, is expected to alarm major tech companies like Apple and raise questions among consumer watchdogs.

A Worldwide Pattern in Digital Security Policy

To combat a rising tide of cybercrime and phone theft, The Indian authorities is aligning with governments internationally. This step echoes recent regulations framed in countries like Russia, which seek to block the use of lost phones for scams and encourage government-developed service apps.

Which Companies Are Affected by the Directive?

The new directive binds leading smartphone companies active in the Indian market. This encompasses Apple, which has previously locked horns with regulators over similar applications, as well as leaders like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

The Fine Print of the Government Mandate

An directive dated 28 November gives phone manufacturers a three-month period to ensure that the government's "Messenger Friend" application is included on all new mobile phones. A notable condition is that users will not be able to remove the software.

For handsets currently in the supply chain, companies are required to send the application via software patches. It is notable that this order was not made public and was communicated in confidence to select companies.

Digital Rights Concerns Raised

However, technology analysts have flagged significant concerns regarding this decision. A legal expert specialising in tech law said that India's step is a worrying development.

“The government effectively erodes user consent as a genuine choice,” stated Mishi Choudhary, an expert working on digital advocacy matters.

Consumer organisations had also questioned a comparable requirement by Russia in August for a state-backed communication app to be pre-installed on phones.

The Size of the Domestic Market

India, among the world's biggest mobile markets, boasts over 1.2 billion mobile users. Government data indicate that the Sanchar Saathi application, launched in January, has reportedly helped tracking down more than 700,000 lost phones, with approximately 50,000 found in October by itself.

The authorities states that the app is essential to tackle the “significant endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which facilitate scams and system misuse.

The Tech Giant's Position

Apple's iOS runs on an approximate 4.5% of the 735 million mobile phones in India, with the rest using Android, according to market research. While Apple includes its own first-party applications on its devices, its internal guidelines are said to forbid the installation of any third-party app before the sale of a device.

“Apple has traditionally declined these kinds of demands from authorities,” noted Tarun Pathak, a analyst at Counterpoint.

“It’s probable to aim for a compromise: instead of a mandatory inclusion, they might negotiate and ask for an alternative to nudge users towards installing the application.”

Queries for comment from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi went unanswered. India’s telecommunications department 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 most commonly used by carriers to cut off network access for phones reported as lost.

The government application is chiefly created to enable users track and track lost or stolen phones across all telecom networks, using a national database. It also allows them to detect, and block, unauthorised mobile connections.

Notable Usage and Results

With over 5 million downloads since its inception, the software has already been used to disable more than 3.7 million missing mobile phones. Additionally, over 30 million illegal connections have also been terminated through its use.

The government states that the software helps combating cyberthreats and helps in the locating and disabling of lost or stolen phones, thereby helping police in tracing handsets and keeping counterfeits out of the black market.