"The order - passed last week but made public on Monday - gave smartphone makers 90 days to pre-load new phones with its new Sanchar Saathi app which could not be "disabled or restricted", sparking privacy and surveillance concerns. The government justified the move saying it was necessary to verify the authenticity of handsets, but cybersecurity experts said it impinged on citizens' right to privacy."
"The government said it had decided to withdraw the order citing the app's "increasing acceptance". So far 14 million users have downloaded the app, reporting 2,000 frauds daily, and on Tuesday alone 600,000 new users registered - a tenfold spike, according to India's telecom ministry. But the order to make the registration mandatory had led to a major backlash from several cybersecurity experts."
India rescinded a directive that would have required smartphone makers to pre-load the Sanchar Saathi app on new phones and prevented disabling or restricting it. The order initially gave manufacturers 90 days to comply and was justified by the need to verify handset authenticity. Cybersecurity experts warned the mandate would impinge on citizens' privacy and prompt surveillance concerns. Fourteen million users have downloaded the app, with about 2,000 fraud reports daily and a spike of 600,000 new registrations in one day. Major manufacturers resisted due to lack of consultation and privacy norms, and digital groups await the formal legal text and any revised rules.
Read at www.bbc.com
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