A political outcry has erupted in India after the government mandated large technology companies to install a state-owned app on smartphones that has led to surveillance fears among opposition MPs and activists.
Manufacturers including Apple, Samsung and Xiomi have 90 days to comply with the order to preload the government’s Sanchar Saathi, or Communication Partner, on every phone in India.
All phones must have the app pre-installed before sale, while those already sold should have it installed through software updates. The Indian government denied any privacy implications, stating that Sanchar Saathi “does not automatically capture any specific personal information from you without intimation on the application”.
According to Reuters, Apple is among the big tech companies that is reportedly refusing to comply with the edict, while other large tech companies have yet to respond publicly.
The app, described as a citizen-centric safety tool, allows users to block and track lost or stolen mobile phones and check how many mobile connections are registered under their name, helping to identify and disconnect fraudulent numbers used in scams.
It also helps report suspected fraudulent calls and verify the authenticity of used devices – particularly to check they aren’t stolen – before buying.
The order for mandatory installation was quietly given to phone manufacturers by the Indian government, led by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, last week.
After it was made public, it was confirmed by the telecom ministry, who described it as a security measure to combat the “serious endangerment” of cybersecurity and fraud that is rampant in India, as well as a means to regulate India’s secondhand phone market.
It has been met with outcry by the political opposition, as well as digital freedom activists and groups, who claimed it was a way for the government to gain unfettered access to the 730m smartphones in the country and track people through their phones.
KC Venugopal, a leader in the opposition Congress party, said the party would protest against the “dystopian” ruling, adding: “Big Brother cannot watch us.”
The internet freedom foundation said it would “fight this direction until it is rescinded”.
Priyanka Gandhi, another senior Congress party leader, condemned it as a “snooping app” that violated citizens’ basic right to privacy.
According to three sources who spoke to Reuters, Apple intends to refuse to comply with the order, due to significant security concerns. Speaking anonymously, those at the company emphasized that internal policy stipulated that Apple does not comply with such orders anywhere in the world, due to the security and privacy risks they 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 permission to share access to cameras, photos and files. Android users – who represent 95% of India’s smartphone market – will be asked to share call logs, send messages for registration, make and manage phone calls “to detect mobile numbers in your phone”, as well as grant access to cameras and photos.
It was reported initially that the government had instructed tech companies to ensure the app could not be disabled. But speaking on Tuesday, the communications minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, denied this. “Keeping it on their devices or not is up to the user,” he said. “It can be deleted from the mobile phone just like any other app.”
