India orders phone makers to preload devices with state-owned cyber safety app
9 days ago
- #privacy
- #telecom
- #cybersecurity
- India's telecom ministry has asked smartphone makers to preload new devices with the Sanchar Saathi app, which cannot be deleted.
- The order affects major brands like Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi, giving them 90 days to comply.
- The app aims to combat cybercrime by blocking stolen phones and preventing fraud via duplicate IMEI numbers.
- Privacy advocates criticize the move, comparing it to Russia's requirement for pre-installed state-backed apps.
- Sanchar Saathi has helped recover over 700,000 lost phones since its launch in January.
- Apple may resist mandatory pre-installation due to its policy against third-party apps on new devices.
- The app allows users to block stolen phones and identify fraudulent mobile connections.
- Over 5 million downloads have led to blocking 3.7 million stolen phones and terminating 30 million fraudulent connections.