India Orders Preloading of State Cyber Safety App on New Smartphones
- tech360.tv
- 38 minutes ago
- 2 min read
India's telecoms ministry has privately asked smartphone manufacturers to preload a state-owned cyber security app, Sanchar Saathi, on all new devices. The app, which users cannot delete, aims to combat a surge in cyber crime and hacking.
A government order requires major smartphone companies to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new mobile phones within 90 days. For devices already in the supply chain, manufacturers must push the app via software updates. The ministry sent this order privately to select companies, and it was not made public.
This directive is expected to antagonise Apple and privacy advocates. Companies such as Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi are bound by the new requirement. India joins other authorities, like Russia, in framing rules to block stolen phone use for fraud and promote state-backed service apps.
Lawyer Mishi Choudhary, who works on internet advocacy issues, expressed concern. Choudhary stated that "the government effectively removes user consent as a meaningful choice." Russia faced criticism for a similar requirement in Aug., mandating a state-backed messenger app called MAX.
Apple has historically refused such government requests. Its internal policies prohibit installing any government or third-party app before a smartphone's sale. Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint, noted Apple might "seek a middle ground" to nudge users toward installation.
The government stated the app is essential to combat "serious endangerment" of telecom cyber security. Duplicate or spoofed International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, which are unique 14- to 17-digit handset numbers, enable scams and network misuse.
India is one of the world's largest telephone markets, with more than 1.2 billion subscribers. Apple's iOS powered an estimated 4.5% of 735 million smartphones in India by mid-2025, according to Counterpoint Research.
Launched in Jan., the Sanchar Saathi app helps users block and track lost or stolen smartphones across all telecom networks. It uses a central registry and allows users to identify and disconnect fraudulent mobile connections.
Government figures show the app has helped recover more than 700,000 lost phones, including 50,000 in Oct. alone. Since its launch, it has seen over 5 million downloads, blocking more than 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones and terminating over 30 million fraudulent connections.
The ministry stated the app helps prevent cyber threats and assists police in tracing devices. It also works to keep counterfeit phones out of the black market.
India's telecoms ministry ordered smartphone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi cyber safety app on new devices.
The app cannot be deleted by users, a provision likely to draw criticism from Apple and privacy advocates.
The directive, sent privately, requires companies like Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi to comply within 90 days.
Source: REUTERS
