US EditionIndia Mandates Undeletable Government App on All Smartphones
India's Department of Telecommunications mandates Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones to combat fraud, with over 5 million downloads aiding in blocking 3.7 million stolen devices, officials said.
- India's telecoms ministry ordered smartphone makers to preload the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices, which users cannot delete, as shown in a government order dated November 28.
- Manufacturers have 90 days to comply and must push updates for devices already in the supply chain, according to the ministry's order that was not publicly released.
- The Sanchar Saathi app has over 5 million downloads and has helped block more than 3.7 million stolen devices while terminating over 30 million fraudulent connections, as reported by the government.
- Apple's internal policies prevent the pre-installation of government apps, and it may negotiate for user options instead of mandatory pre-installation.
182 Articles
182 Articles
Experts "deeply concerned" by India's plan to force all smartphones to run pre-installed security app
Authorities said the state-owned Sanchar Saathi app comes as a way to halt cybercrime, but digital rights experts fear for users' privacy and mission creep. Here's all we know.
It will not be possible to disable or remove it.
India Orders a Tracking App to Be Installed in All Smartphones
India’s government sent a notice to private companies last week giving them 90 days to ensure that a government app was “preinstalled on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India.” The order said the requirement was meant “to identify and report acts that may endanger telecom cybersecurity.” On Tuesday, the government explained that the app, Sanchar Saathi, was intended to prevent crime, including the theft and smuggling of p…
TechCrunch
IT Security News - cybersecurity, infosecurity newsIndia plans to verify and record every smartphone in circulation
The Indian government has ordered smartphone makers to preinstall its Sanchar Saathi app on all devices, a move that is raising fresh privacy concerns.
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