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In a major decision, India's telecoms department has privately directed mobile phone companies to pre-install all new devices with a national cybersecurity app that must remain installed. This directive, which was revealed, is expected to alarm major technology companies like Apple and raise questions among consumer watchdogs.

A Worldwide Shift in Cybersecurity Policy

Addressing a rising tide of online fraud and device misuse, The Indian authorities is following governments across the globe. This move echoes recent measures introduced in countries like Russia, which seek to block the use of stolen phones for fraud and encourage official applications.

What Companies Are Affected by the Order?

The latest order binds key mobile phone makers active in the domestic market. Among them are Apple, a company that has previously had disagreements with the telecom authority over similar apps, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Specifics of the Official Order

An order dated 28 November allots phone manufacturers a three-month period to guarantee that the government's "Messenger Friend" app is pre-installed on all new handsets. A notable stipulation is that consumers are prevented from deleting the application.

For devices already in the distribution network, companies are required to deliver the app via system upgrades. It is notable that this order was not made public and was communicated in confidence to select companies.

Digital Rights Apprehensions Raised

However, legal specialists have raised significant concerns regarding this move. A legal expert focusing in tech issues stated that India's directive is a worrying development.

“The government practically removes user consent as a meaningful choice,” said Mishi Choudhary, an expert working on internet advocacy issues.

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

The Scale of the Indian Smartphone Landscape

India, one of the world's largest telephone markets, boasts over 1.2 billion mobile users. Official figures show that the Sanchar Saathi application, introduced in January, has already assisted in tracking down more than 700,000 stolen phones, with approximately 50,000 recovered in October by itself.

The authorities argues that the tool is crucial to combat the “serious endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which facilitate illicit activities and network abuse.

Apple's Likely Response

Apple's iOS powers an approximate 4.5% of the 735 million mobile phones in India, with the vast majority using Android, as per industry analysis. While Apple includes its own proprietary apps on its devices, its company rules are said to forbid the inclusion of any third-party app before the sale of a smartphone.

“Apple has in the past resisted these kinds of mandates from authorities,” said Tarun Pathak, a analyst at Counterpoint.

“It’s likely to seek a middle ground: rather than a forced inclusion, they might discuss and propose an option to prompt users towards downloading the application.”

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

The Role of the IMEI and the Application's Purpose

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a 14- to 17-digit number unique to each mobile device. It is most commonly used by operators to disable network access for phones reported as stolen.

The government app is mainly intended to enable users track and locate lost or stolen phones across all telecom networks, using a national database. It also enables them to detect, and disconnect, illegal mobile connections.

Impressive Adoption and Results

With over 5 million downloads since its release, the software has reportedly been used to disable over 3.7 million missing mobile phones. Furthermore, over 30 million illegal connections have also been blocked through its use.

The government asserts that the app aids in combating digital threats and helps in the locating and blocking of missing phones, thereby helping police in recovering devices and preventing counterfeits out of the illicit trade.