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In a major move, India's telecoms department has confidentially asked mobile phone companies to pre-install all new devices with a government-backed cybersecurity application that is non-removable. This order, which has come to light, is expected to alarm major technology firms like Apple and prompt concerns among digital rights groups.

A Global Pattern in Cybersecurity Policy

Addressing a recent surge of online fraud and phone theft, India is aligning with regulators worldwide. This move echoes similar rules introduced in countries like Russia, which seek to block the use of stolen phones for illicit activities and push official tools.

Which Companies Are Bound by the Directive?

The latest directive applies to leading mobile phone makers active in the Indian market. These include Apple, which has in the past locked horns with the telecom authority over similar applications, as well as leaders like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

The Fine Print of the Government Order

An directive dated 28 November gives smartphone manufacturers a three-month period to guarantee that the government's "Messenger Friend" application is pre-installed on all new mobile phones. A key condition is that owners will not be able to remove the application.

For handsets currently in the supply chain, companies are directed to push the application via software updates. It is worth mentioning that this directive was sent confidentially and was sent privately to chosen manufacturers.

User Consent Concerns Voiced

However, legal specialists have flagged major apprehensions regarding this move. A lawyer focusing in technology matters said that India's action is a cause for concern.

“The government effectively eliminates user consent as a meaningful choice,” commented Mishi Choudhary, an advocate working on internet rights matters.

Consumer organisations had also criticised a comparable requirement by Russia in August for a government-sponsored communication app to be included on phones.

The Size of the Domestic Market

India, one of the world's biggest telephone markets, boasts more than 1.2 billion mobile users. Government data indicate that the cybersecurity application, launched in January, has reportedly helped locating more than 700,000 stolen phones, with an estimated 50,000 found in October alone.

The government contends that the tool is essential to tackle the “significant endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from cloned or spoofed IMEI numbers, which facilitate scams and system abuse.

The Tech Giant's Likely Response

Apple's iOS runs on an estimated 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 first-party applications on its devices, its company rules are said to ban the installation of any third-party app before the sale of a smartphone.

“Apple has traditionally refused such mandates from authorities,” commented Tarun Pathak, a analyst at Counterpoint.

“It’s expected to seek a negotiated solution: rather than a compulsory inclusion, they might negotiate and propose an alternative to nudge users towards installing the application.”

Queries for response from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi were unanswered. India’s telecoms ministry also offered no comment.

Understanding the IMEI and the App's Function

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a 14- to 17-digit number unique to each mobile device. It is typically used by carriers to block cellular access for phones reported as stolen.

The Sanchar Saathi application is mainly created to enable users block and track lost or stolen phones across all telecom networks, using a national registry. It also allows them to detect, and terminate, unauthorised mobile connections.

Impressive Adoption and Results

With more than 5 million downloads since its release, the software has already been used to block more than 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones. Moreover, more than 30 million fraudulent connections have also been disconnected through its use.

The authorities asserts that the app aids in preventing cyberthreats and helps in the tracking and disabling of missing phones, thereby aiding police in recovering handsets and keeping counterfeits out of the illicit trade.