Indian order to preload state-owned app on smartphones causes political outcry | India
A political outcry has broken out in India after the government authorized major tech companies to install a government-owned app on smartphones, sparking fears of surveillance among opposition lawmakers and activists.
Manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung and Xiomi, now have 90 days to comply with the government’s order to pre-install Sanchar Saathi (Communications Partner) on every phone in India.
All phones must have the app pre-installed before sale, while phones already sold must have it installed via software updates. The Indian government has denied any privacy impact, stating that Sanchar Saathi “does not automatically collect any personal information from you without your knowledge in the app.”
According to Reuters, Apple is among the major tech companies reportedly refusing to comply with the edict, while other major tech companies have yet to publicly respond.
Described as a citizen-focused security tool, the app allows users to block and track lost or stolen mobile phones and check how many mobile connections are registered in their name, helping to identify and disconnect fake numbers used for fraudulent purposes.
It also helps report suspected fraudulent calls and verify the authenticity of used devices (especially checking if they are stolen) before purchasing.
The mandatory installation order was quietly issued to phone manufacturers by the Indian government led by prime minister Narendra Modi last week.
After it was made public, it was approved by the telecommunications ministry, which described it as a security measure to combat the “serious danger” of cybersecurity and fraud rampant in India, as well as a way to regulate India’s second-hand phone market.
This was met with backlash from the political opposition as well as digital freedom activists and groups, who claimed it was a way for the government to gain unrestricted access to the country’s 730 million smartphones and track people through their phones.
KC Venugopal, a leader of the opposition Congress party, said the party would protest the “dystopian” decision, adding: “Big Brother cannot watch us.”
The internet freedom foundation said it would “fight for this until it is cancelled.”
Priyanka Gandhi, another senior Congress party leader, condemned it as a “surveillance app” that violated citizens’ fundamental right to privacy.
Apple plans to refuse to comply with the order due to serious security concerns, three sources told Reuters. People at the company, speaking anonymously, emphasized that internal policy stipulates that Apple will not comply with such orders anywhere in the world due to the security and privacy risks posed to Apple’s iOS operating system. Apple did not respond to official requests for comment.
According to the app’s privacy policy, iPhone users will be asked for permission to share access to cameras, photos and files. Android users, who represent 95% of the Indian smartphone market, will be asked to share call logs, send messages for recording, make and manage phone calls, as well as grant access to cameras and photos “to identify mobile numbers on your phone”.
It was initially reported that the government had instructed tech companies to make sure the app could not be disabled. However, speaking on Tuesday, communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia denied this. “It’s up to the user to keep it on their device or not,” he said. “Like other applications, it can be deleted from the mobile phone.”
