India’s telecoms ministry has privately asked smartphone makers to preload all new devices with a state-owned cybersecurity app that cannot be deleted, a government order showed, a move likely to antagonise Apple and privacy advocates.
And the people in the market for a smartphone, surely? Or don't they count?
In tackling a recent surge of cybercrime and hacking, India is joining authorities worldwide, most recently in Russia, to frame rules blocking the use of stolen phones for fraud or promoting state-backed government service apps.
How long before Britain joins them?
Apple, which has previously locked horns with the telecoms regulator over development of a government anti-spam mobile app, is among the companies, such as Samsung, Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi bound by the new order. The 28 November order gives major smartphone companies 90 days to ensure that the government’s Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed on new mobile phones, with a provision that users cannot disable it.
What about existing phones? Oh they have a plan for those too!
For devices already in the supply chain, manufacturers should push the app to phones via software updates, the ministry said in its order, which was not made public and was sent privately to select companies.
Who ptromptly leaked it, shoeing just how likely they are to comply.
A lawyer specialising in technology matters said India’s move was cause for concern, however.
“Apple has historically refused such requests from governments,” said Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint.
And they aren't about to start going along with this nonsense now...
The problem with using a single worldwide app, is you only have to find a defeat for that one app and you have access to the world's phones. Makes it easier for both black and white hat hackers to exploit. If you had diverse apps, you prevent a single point of exploit and you can also compete to develop the best protection.
ReplyDeleteMark, not sure why your comment did not automatically post ... Julia is in York with family, so lil ole me has to do the oversight (usually our Boudica type leader). Readers, I'll check more often this weekend.
DeleteThanks James.
DeleteWhile my devices are Apple-centric, with one other laptop with Mint, I'm well aware of this threat. To a point, my only having a dumbphone helps but on the ipads, the Cloudflare issue kicks in and is a pain. Refusing near-demands to cede control is an ongoing, daily thing, with them thinking up even sneakier ways.
ReplyDeleteIt is standard push from the government. They request that suppliers make the mods. Then they legislate.
ReplyDeleteI wish that the suppliers would all ignore these pushes and make the government legislate where it is out in the open and they can be seen for the totalitarian cunts that they are.
In the meantime hackers will hack any app and allow it to be removed. They patch the OS or the app and simply bypass the app functioning.
Governments just don't understand anything and everything they do fucks up.