India Mandates Pre-Installation of Controversial Cyber Safety App on Smartphones
The Indian government has ordered smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi, a state-owned cybersecurity app, on all devices. This directive, aimed at combating telecom fraud and ensuring mobile safety, has sparked significant backlash and privacy concerns from opposition parties and the public. Critics argue that the app represents an overreach of government authority and poses surveillance risks, drawing comparisons to earlier controversial spyware cases. In response, the ruling party has defended the app as a necessary tool for securing user data and devices. Major tech companies, including Apple, are reportedly resistant to complying with the order, stating it could infringe on user privacy rights. The situation continues to unfold as both the government and opposition debate the implications of this mandate.
The New York Times, BBC, Financial Times, India Today, NDTV, dw.com, The Hindu, Times of India, Forbes, The Hacker News