Hey fam 👋, India is shaking up the smartphone world with a bold security proposal! 🔐📱
Under proposals introduced this month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, smartphone makers would have to:
- Share their full source code for security checks
- Alert the National Centre for Communication Security about major software updates
- Let users uninstall pre-installed apps and block background camera and microphone access
- Run periodic malware scans and store logs on-device for 12 months
Tech giants like Apple, Samsung, Google and Xiaomi are pushing back behind the scenes, warning that these 83 security standards risk exposing proprietary details and could drain battery life ⚡🔋. Industry group MAIT says no major markets, from Europe to North America, mandate such deep code reviews.
The goal? Beef up data security in India’s massive smartphone market of nearly 750 million devices, and curb online fraud and breaches that have been on the rise. IT Secretary S. Krishnan says the government is open to feedback and will address any legitimate concerns as consultations continue.
Critics argue that requiring government approval for each update is impractical and that year-long log storage could be a storage headache on phones. But supporters believe these steps are key to protecting user data and national security.
With talks still ongoing, it’s anyone’s guess how the final rules will look. One thing’s for sure: our phones might never be the same again! 🌟
Reference(s):
India requires smartphone makers to give source code for security
cgtn.com
