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In a major step, India's telecoms ministry has privately asked mobile phone manufacturers to include all new phones with a government-backed cybersecurity app that cannot be deleted. This order, which has come to light, is likely to alarm major tech firms like Apple and prompt questions among privacy advocates.

A Worldwide Trend in Digital Security Policy

Addressing a growing wave of cybercrime and phone theft, India is aligning with governments across the globe. This move echoes recent rules introduced in nations like Russia, which aim to block the use of lost phones for fraud and encourage official applications.

Which Companies Are Impacted by the Directive?

The recent directive applies to major smartphone brands active in the domestic market. Among them are Apple, a company that has in the past clashed with the telecom authority over similar applications, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Details of the Government Mandate

An order dated 28 November allots phone manufacturers a 90-day window to ensure that the government's Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed on all new mobile phones. A notable provision is that owners will not be able to remove the software.

For devices currently in the supply chain, makers are required to push the app via software updates. It is important that this directive was not made public and was sent selectively to select companies.

User Consent Worries Expressed

However, technology specialists have raised major apprehensions regarding this policy. A legal expert specialising in tech matters stated that India's action is a cause for concern.

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

Privacy advocates had previously questioned a comparable mandate by Russia in August for a state-backed messenger called Max 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 subscribers. Official data show that the cybersecurity application, launched in January, has already assisted in recovering over 700,000 stolen phones, with an estimated 50,000 found in October alone.

The government contends that the tool is crucial to tackle the “serious endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which enable scams and network misuse.

The Tech Giant's Likely Response

Apple's iOS powers an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million mobile phones in India, with the vast majority using Android, as per market research. While Apple pre-installs its own first-party applications on its devices, its internal guidelines are said to forbid the inclusion of any third-party application before the sale of a device.

“Apple has historically declined such mandates from authorities,” said Tarun Pathak, a analyst at Counterpoint.

“It’s probable to pursue a compromise: instead of a mandatory inclusion, they might discuss and ask for an option to prompt users towards downloading the app.”

Requests for response from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi were unanswered. India’s telecommunications ministry also remained silent.

Understanding 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 typically used by operators to block cellular access for phones flagged as lost.

The government app is mainly designed to help users block and track missing phones across all mobile carriers, using a central registry. It also lets them to spot, and disconnect, unauthorised mobile connections.

Notable Usage and Outcomes

With more than 5 million downloads since its inception, the software has already helped disable more than 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones. Additionally, more than 30 million fraudulent connections have also been blocked through its use.

The government claims that the app aids in preventing cyberthreats and assists in the tracking and disabling of missing phones, thereby helping police in recovering devices and preventing counterfeits out of the black market.