India orders Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo to preload mandatory, undeletable Sanchar Saathi cyber security app on all new smartphones within 90 days to combat surge in cyber crime, hacking and phone fraud affecting 1.2 billion telecom users.

India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

SummaryCompaniesDirective affects Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, XiaomiGovernment says app combats cyber security threatsIndustry concerned over lack of prior consultationIndia has more than 1.2 billion telecom usersBENGALURU, Dec 1 (Reuters) - India's telecoms ministry has privately asked smartphone makers to preload all new devices with a state-owned cyber security app that cannot be deleted, a government order showed, a move likely to antagonise Apple and privacy advocates.In tackling a recent s...