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In a notable step, India's telecommunications ministry has privately asked mobile phone makers to preload all new handsets with a government-backed cybersecurity app that is non-removable. This order, which has come to light, is likely to antagonise leading technology companies like Apple and prompt concerns among privacy advocates.

An International Shift in Cybersecurity Policy

In tackling a rising tide of cybercrime and hacking, The Indian authorities is joining authorities across the globe. This step echoes recent rules framed in countries like Russia, which aim to block the use of stolen phones for illicit activities and push state-backed applications.

Which Companies Are Bound by the Order?

The latest directive binds key mobile phone makers active in the domestic market. This encompasses Apple, a company that has previously clashed with the telecom authority over similar apps, as well as leaders like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Details of the Official Mandate

An directive dated 28 November provides phone companies a three-month window to guarantee that the government's "Messenger Friend" application is factory-loaded on all new handsets. A key condition is that owners will not be able to remove the software.

For phones already in the supply chain, makers are instructed to send the application via system updates. It is notable that this order was privately circulated and was sent privately to specific firms.

Privacy Worries Voiced

However, technology specialists have flagged major apprehensions regarding this decision. A legal expert focusing in technology law stated that India's directive is a worrying development.

“The government practically erodes user consent as a meaningful choice,” said Mishi Choudhary, an expert working on digital rights issues.

Privacy advocates had earlier criticised a comparable requirement by Russia in August for a state-backed messenger app to be pre-installed on phones.

The Size of the Domestic Smartphone Landscape

India, one of the world's largest telephone markets, boasts more than 1.2 billion mobile users. Official data indicate that the cybersecurity app, launched in January, has already helped locating over 700,000 lost phones, with an estimated 50,000 recovered in October by itself.

The authorities contends that the tool is vital to combat the “serious endangerment” of telecom cybersecurity from cloned or tampered IMEI numbers, which facilitate scams and network abuse.

The Tech Giant's Stance

Apple's iOS powers an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million mobile phones in India, with the vast majority using Android, according to industry analysis. While Apple includes its own first-party apps on its devices, its internal rules reportedly forbid the inclusion of any government app before the sale of a device.

“Apple has historically declined these kinds of mandates from governments,” said Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint.

“It’s likely to aim for a compromise: rather than a compulsory pre-install, they might discuss and ask for an option to encourage users towards downloading the application.”

Queries for comment from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi went unresponded. India’s telecommunications ministry also remained silent.

The Role of the IMEI and the App's Purpose

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a 14- to 17-digit number assigned to each handset. It is most commonly used by operators to cut off cellular access for phones reported as lost.

The government app is chiefly created to help users block and track lost or stolen smartphones across all mobile carriers, using a central registry. It also enables them to spot, and block, unauthorised mobile connections.

Impressive Adoption and Results

With over 5 million downloads since its launch, the software has already been used to disable over 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones. Moreover, over 30 million illegal connections have also been blocked through its use.

The authorities asserts that the app aids in preventing cyberthreats and helps in the tracking and disabling of missing phones, thereby helping police in tracing devices and keeping cloned devices out of the illicit trade.