There has been a political uproar in India after the government forced big technology companies to install a state-owned app on smartphones, sparking surveillance fears among opposition lawmakers and activists.
Manufacturers including Apple, Samsung and Xiomi have 90 days to comply with the government’s order to preload Communication Partner, or communication partners, on every phone in India.
All phones must have the app pre-installed before going on sale, while those that have already been sold must have it installed via software update. The Indian government denied any privacy implications, saying that Sanchar Saathi “does not automatically receive any specific personal information from you without notice on the application”.
According to Reuters, Apple is one of the big tech companies reportedly refusing to comply with the order, while other big tech companies have yet to respond publicly.
The app, described as a citizen-centric security tool, allows users to block and track lost or stolen mobile phones and check how many mobile connections are registered in their name, helping to identify and disconnect fraudulent numbers used in scams.
It also helps to report suspected fraudulent calls and verify the authenticity of used devices – especially to check that they have not been stolen before purchasing.
The mandatory installation was quietly ordered by phone makers last week by the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After it was made public, it was confirmed by the Ministry of Telecommunications, which described it as a security measure to deal with the “serious threat” of cyber security and fraud prevalent in India, as well as a means to regulate India’s secondhand phone market.
It faced outrage from 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 730 million smartphones in the country and track people through their phones.
Opposition Congress party leader KC Venugopal said the party would protest against the “dystopian” decision, adding: “Big Brother can’t see us.”
The Internet Freedom Foundation said it would “fight for this until it is repealed”.
Priyanka Gandhi, another senior Congress party leader, condemned it as a “spying app” that violated citizens’ basic right to privacy.
Apple wants to refuse to comply with the order because of significant security concerns, according to three sources who spoke to Reuters. Speaking anonymously, people at the company emphasized that internal policy states that Apple does not comply with such orders anywhere in the world, as it poses a security and privacy risk 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 for permission to share access to the camera, 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 as well as provide access to the camera and photos to “trace mobile numbers in your phone”.
It was initially reported that the government had directed tech companies to ensure that the app could not be disabled. But speaking on Tuesday, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia denied this. “It’s up to the user to keep it on their device or not,” he said. “It can be removed from the mobile phone just like any other app.”
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