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In a major step, India's telecoms ministry has discreetly asked mobile phone companies to pre-install all new phones with a government-backed cybersecurity application that is non-removable. This order, which has been disclosed, is expected to antagonise major tech companies like Apple and raise questions among digital rights groups.

An International Pattern in Cybersecurity Regulation

In tackling a growing wave of online fraud and phone theft, India is joining regulators internationally. This step echoes recent rules introduced in nations like Russia, which seek to block the use of stolen phones for scams and promote state-backed service apps.

What Companies Are Impacted by the Order?

The latest mandate affects leading mobile phone brands operating in the Indian market. Among them are Apple, which has previously clashed with the telecom authority over similar applications, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

The Fine Print of the Official Order

An directive dated 28 November provides smartphone manufacturers a 90-day window to ensure that the government's "Messenger Friend" application is included on all new mobile phones. A notable condition is that consumers are prevented from deleting the app.

For phones currently in the distribution network, companies are instructed to send the app via system updates. It is worth mentioning that this order was privately circulated and was communicated selectively to specific firms.

Privacy Concerns Raised

However, legal experts have expressed serious worries regarding this move. A legal expert specialising in tech issues stated that India's action is a cause for concern.

“The government in essence removes user consent as a meaningful choice,” said Mishi Choudhary, an advocate working on internet rights matters.

Privacy advocates had also condemned a comparable mandate by Russia in August for a state-backed communication app to be pre-installed on phones.

The Size of the Indian Smartphone Landscape

India, among the world's biggest telephone markets, boasts more than 1.2 billion mobile users. Official figures indicate that the cybersecurity application, launched in January, has reportedly helped locating more than 700,000 lost phones, with approximately 50,000 found in October alone.

The government argues that the software is crucial to combat the “serious endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from cloned or spoofed IMEI numbers, which facilitate fraud and system misuse.

Apple's Stance

Apple's iOS powers an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million smartphones in India, with the rest using Android, according to market research. While Apple includes its own proprietary applications on its devices, its company guidelines are said to prohibit the inclusion of any third-party app before the purchase of a device.

“Apple has historically resisted these kinds of demands from governments,” commented Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint.

“It’s expected to seek a middle ground: instead of a compulsory pre-install, they might discuss and ask for an option to encourage users towards downloading the app.”

Queries for response from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi went unanswered. India’s telecoms 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 operators to block cellular access for phones reported as lost.

The Sanchar Saathi app is primarily intended to enable users track and locate missing phones across all telecom networks, using a central database. It also enables them to identify, and terminate, illegal mobile connections.

Notable Usage and Results

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

The authorities states that the software aids in preventing cyberthreats and helps in the locating and disabling of missing phones, thereby aiding police in recovering handsets and preventing cloned devices out of the black market.