India orders phone makers to preload devices with state-owned cyber safety app

"The 28 November order gives major smartphone companies 90 days to ensure that the government's Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed on new mobile phones, with a provision that users cannot disable it. For devices already in the supply chain, manufacturers should push the app to phones via software updates, the ministry said in its order, which was not made public and was sent privately to select companies."

"A lawyer specialising in technology matters said India's move was cause for concern, however. The government effectively removes user consent as a meaningful choice, said Mishi Choudhary, who works on internet advocacy issues. Privacy advocates criticised a similar requirement by Russia in August for a state-backed messenger app called Max to be pre-installed on phones. One of the world's largest telephone markets, India has more than 1.2 billion subscribers,"

India's telecoms ministry privately instructed major smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the state-owned Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on new phones and prevent users from disabling it. The 28 November order gives companies 90 days to comply and requires pushing the app via software updates for devices already in the supply chain. The measure targets a surge in cybercrime, stolen-phone fraud and spoofed IMEI numbers. The app, launched in January, reportedly helped recover over 700,000 lost phones, including 50,000 in October. Privacy advocates and technology lawyers warned the mandate removes meaningful user consent and raises civil-liberty concerns.

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