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In a major move, India's telecommunications department has privately asked mobile phone makers to include all new devices with a government-backed cybersecurity application that must remain installed. This directive, which has come to light, is likely to antagonise leading tech companies like Apple and raise questions among consumer watchdogs.

An International Shift in Digital Security Policy

In tackling a growing wave of online fraud and phone theft, The Indian authorities is following regulators worldwide. This move mirrors similar rules framed in countries like Russia, which are designed to curb the use of lost phones for illicit activities and promote government-developed tools.

Which Manufacturers Are Affected by the Order?

The recent directive binds key mobile phone makers active in the domestic market. This encompasses Apple, a company that has in the past locked horns with the telecom authority over comparable apps, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

The Fine Print of the Government Mandate

An order dated 28 November provides smartphone manufacturers a 90-day period to ensure that the official "Messenger Friend" application is included on all new mobile phones. A critical provision is that consumers cannot disable the software.

For phones already in the supply chain, makers are instructed to send the app via software patches. It is worth mentioning that this directive was not made public and was dispatched selectively to chosen companies.

Privacy Worries Raised

However, technology specialists have flagged major worries regarding this move. A legal expert specialising in tech matters commented that India's action is a cause for concern.

“The government practically removes user consent as a real choice,” commented Mishi Choudhary, an expert working on digital advocacy matters.

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

The Size of the Domestic Smartphone Landscape

India, among the world's largest mobile markets, boasts more than 1.2 billion mobile users. Official figures reveal that the Sanchar Saathi app, launched in January, has reportedly helped recovering more than 700,000 lost phones, with approximately 50,000 found in October by itself.

The government contends that the app is essential to tackle the “grave endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from fake or tampered IMEI numbers, which facilitate fraud and system abuse.

Apple's Stance

Apple's iOS powers an approximate 4.5% of the 735 million mobile phones in India, with the vast majority using Android, as per market research. While Apple includes its own proprietary applications on its devices, its company guidelines reportedly forbid the inclusion of any third-party application before the purchase of a device.

“Apple has traditionally declined such requests from authorities,” commented Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint.

“It’s likely to aim for a middle ground: instead of a compulsory pre-install, they might discuss and propose an option to prompt users towards downloading the application.”

Requests for comment from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi went unanswered. India’s telecoms ministry also remained silent.

The Role of the IMEI and the Application's Purpose

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a unique identification number assigned to each handset. It is primarily used by operators to cut off cellular access for phones flagged as lost.

The Sanchar Saathi application is mainly created to help users block and locate lost or stolen phones across all mobile carriers, using a national database. It also lets them to identify, and block, unauthorised mobile connections.

Impressive Adoption and Results

With over 5 million installs since its release, the app has already been used to disable over 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones. Additionally, over 30 million illegal connections have also been disconnected through its use.

The authorities claims that the app helps preventing cyberthreats and assists in the tracking and disabling of lost or stolen phones, thereby aiding police in tracing handsets and keeping counterfeits out of the black market.