News Summary

India’s telecom ministry has issued a confidential order requiring smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi, to preload a state-owned cybersecurity app called Sanchar Saathi on all new mobile devices. This app, which cannot be deleted by users, is aimed at preventing cybercrime by allowing users to block and track lost or stolen smartphones. The mandate has sparked concerns among privacy advocates and major smartphone companies, particularly Apple, which typically resists such directives. The app has already been instrumental in blocking millions of fraudulent mobile connections and stolen phones. While the app’s goal is to enhance cyber safety, the move has raised issues regarding user consent and privacy, drawing parallels to similar mandates in other countries like Russia.