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In a major step, India's telecommunications department has discreetly instructed mobile phone makers to preload all new devices with a state-owned cybersecurity tool that must remain installed. This order, which has been disclosed, is likely to alarm major technology companies like Apple and raise questions among consumer watchdogs.

A Global Trend in Cybersecurity Regulation

To combat a growing wave of cybercrime and hacking, India is following governments worldwide. This move echoes recent regulations introduced in nations like Russia, which are designed to prevent the use of stolen phones for fraud and promote state-backed applications.

Which Companies Are Impacted by the Directive?

The recent order affects key smartphone brands active in the Indian market. These include Apple, which has in the past had disagreements with regulators over similar apps, as well as giants like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.

Details of the Government Mandate

An order dated 28 November provides phone manufacturers a three-month deadline to guarantee that the official "Messenger Friend" application is pre-installed on all new devices. A critical stipulation is that consumers cannot disable the app.

For phones currently in the supply chain, manufacturers are directed to send the application via system updates. It is notable that this directive was sent confidentially and was dispatched privately to specific firms.

Privacy Concerns Voiced

However, legal experts have raised serious apprehensions regarding this move. A lawyer specialising in technology law commented that India's step is a cause for concern.

“The government in essence erodes user consent as a real choice,” said Mishi Choudhary, an advocate working on digital rights matters.

Consumer organisations had earlier criticised a similar mandate by Russia in August for a government-sponsored messenger app to be included on phones.

The Scale of the Indian Market

India, among the world's biggest mobile markets, boasts over 1.2 billion connections. Official statistics indicate that the Sanchar Saathi app, introduced in January, has already helped locating over 700,000 lost phones, with around 50,000 recovered in October alone.

The authorities states that the tool is essential to combat the “serious endangerment” of mobile network cybersecurity from cloned or spoofed IMEI numbers, which facilitate illicit activities and system misuse.

Apple's Stance

Apple's iOS powers an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million smartphones in India, with the rest using Android, as per market research. While Apple includes its own first-party apps on its devices, its internal rules are said to prohibit the inclusion of any third-party application before the sale of a device.

“Apple has traditionally declined these kinds of requests from authorities,” said Tarun Pathak, a analyst at Counterpoint.

“It’s probable to aim for a compromise: instead of a mandatory inclusion, they might discuss and ask for an option to prompt users towards downloading the app.”

Queries for comment from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi went unresponded. India’s telecommunications department also did not respond.

The Role of the IMEI and the Application's Function

The IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a unique identification number assigned to each handset. It is typically used by carriers to block cellular access for phones flagged as stolen.

The government application is chiefly designed to enable users track and locate lost or stolen phones across all telecom networks, using a national database. It also allows them to spot, and terminate, unauthorised mobile connections.

Impressive Usage and Results

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

The authorities claims that the tool aids in preventing digital threats and assists in the locating and blocking of lost or stolen phones, thereby helping police in tracing devices and preventing counterfeits out of the black market.