Realme was recently accused of collecting personal user data through a Realme UI 4.0 feature known as  “Enhanced Intelligent Services.” The description of this feature explicitly mentions that it collects data like device information, app usage statistics, location data, calendar events, and statistics related to SMS messages and calls. What really sparked the controversy was the fact that this feature came enabled by default.

Rajeev Chandrashekar, Union Minister of Electronics and Technology said that the government would investigate and verify the claims. Realme later clarified that the feature is there for optimization purposes and the data in question is stored and processed locally. Now, Realme has rolled out a new update for the newly launched Realme 11 Pro 5G and Realme 11 Pro+ 5G which disables this option. The updates come with firmware version RMX3771_13.1.0.524(EX01) and RMX3741_13.1.0.524(EX01).

The update improves system stability and optimizes the power consumption of the camera. In order to prevent additional controversy, the update has also revised the “Enhanced Intelligent Services” feature’s description and has turned it off by default. The description now says that the feature focuses solely on improving the user experience by analyzing device usage patterns. Regarding the optimized charging functionality, it will now utilize local data and app usage statistics directly on the device, while obtaining permission for location information.

A comparable update is anticipated for other Realme devices operating on Realme UI 4.0, as well as devices from sister brands such as OnePlus and Oppo running Android 13. This forthcoming update is expected to modify the language describing this feature and also disable it by default. Reports from users indicate that this feature has been observed on devices from these brands.

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Amidst the increased scrutiny of Chinese companies by the Indian government, Realme has become the latest brand to face challenges, as accusations of collecting personal user data have surfaced. Further details will be provided to give a comprehensive understanding of the situation.

Realme has recently faced allegations of collecting user data through a default-enabled feature. The feature in question, known as “Enhanced Intelligent Services,” is found in Realme UI 4.0, the operating system running on many Realme smartphone models. The concerns were raised by Twitter user Rishi Bagree, who highlighted that this feature, which is enabled by default, gathers various types of data such as device information, app usage statistics, location data, calendar events, and statistics related to SMS messages and calls. Notably, this information is explicitly mentioned in the description of the feature, leaving little room for speculation.

Realme in Union Minister of Electronics and Technology’s radar

In response to the allegations, Twitter users questioned the purpose of the default-enabled service and raised concerns about where the collected data was being sent. The tweet gained attention when Rajeev Chandrashekar, Union Minister of Electronics and Technology, shared it, expressing that the government would investigate and verify the claims. Given the Indian government’s past actions of banning numerous China-based apps due to data privacy concerns, this situation could potentially escalate into a significant issue for the Realme brand.

Realme has promptly responded to the allegations and provided a statement to 91mobiles, addressing the concerns regarding the functionality of the app and the security and privacy of Realme users.

The brand said that “realme attaches great importance to the privacy and security of our consumers and we are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of data security. Specific to the issue raised, we would like to clarify that the enhanced intelligent services feature is linked to optimising device usage to ensure that consumers get better battery life and temperature performance. However, contrary to the current description, we do not connect any data on SMS, phone calls, schedules, etc.

All data processed in this service is encrypted and stored in encrypted hardware within user’s device strictly in compliance with Android security mechanisms. This data is completely stored within the device and is not shared anywhere else or uploaded on the cloud. We place great emphasis on user privacy protection, the enhanced intelligent services feature can be manually turned on or off basis the needs of the consumers.”

Realme’s official statement emphasizes that the data collection process is intended solely to enhance the user experience, assuring that all collected data remains stored locally on the device. However, due to the recurring history of significant data allegations associated with Chinese companies, it is understandable that users have raised concerns about data privacy and security. Interestingly, Twitter users have also discovered a similar feature on OnePlus devices, suggesting that this issue might not be limited to Realme alone.

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(Source)

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