India is reportedly planning to introduce new security rules that would force smartphone manufacturers to allow the removal of pre-installed apps and mandate screening of major operating system updates. The rules are being considered amid concerns about spying and abuse of user data. The move could extend launch timelines in the world’s second-largest smartphone market and lead to losses in business from pre-installed apps for players including Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Apple.
The Indian government is considering the new rules to ensure that pre-installed apps are not weak security points that could be exploited by foreign nations, including China, said a senior government official. The government has ramped up scrutiny of Chinese businesses since a 2020 border clash between the two nations, banning more than 300 Chinese apps, including TikTok.
Under the new rules, smartphone makers will have to provide an uninstall option for pre-installed apps, and new models will be checked for compliance by a lab authorized by the Bureau of Indian Standards agency. The government is also considering mandating screening of every major operating system update before it is rolled out to consumers.
India’s fast-growing smartphone market is dominated by Chinese players, with Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo accounting for almost half of all sales, while Samsung has a 20% share and Apple has 3%. The companies and India’s IT ministry have not responded to a Reuters request for comment.
However, the new rules could pose challenges for smartphone manufacturers, particularly for those that sell their devices with proprietary apps or pre-install others with which they have monetization agreements. Some industry executives have expressed concerns that more testing could prolong approval timelines for smartphones and hinder a company’s go-to-market strategy. Nonetheless, the Indian government has decided to give smartphone makers a year to comply with the new rules once they come into effect, the date for which has not been fixed yet.
RELATED:
- Apple Puts Spotlight on India with New Sales Management Approach
- Bharti Airtel to Raise Prices of Mobile Service Across All Plans in India
- Android Smartphones in India Differ From the Rest of the World
- Android Smartphones in India Differ From the Rest of the World
(Source)
