India has ordered all new smartphones to come pre-loaded with a state-run cybersecurity application, a move that has sparked widespread privacy and surveillance concerns.
The directive was passed last week but made public on Monday, giving smartphone manufacturers 90 days to ensure that every new device comes with the government’s Sanchar Saathi app pre-installed, with its functionalities not allowed to be disabled or restricted.
Authorities say the app is designed to help citizens verify the authenticity of their mobile handsets and report suspected misuse of telecom services.
The move has drawn criticism from cyber experts and digital rights advocates, who argue that mandatory installation of a government-run app could infringe on citizens’ right to privacy in a country with more than 1.2 billion mobile users, one of the world’s largest smartphone markets.
Source: BBC News