India to put Chinese smartphones to the test for eavesdropping, citing data security concerns

To prevent alleged cyber espionage, the government is establishing a list of trusted suppliers and trusted enterprises for telecom equipment and networking devices. Experts believe the decision is intended at keeping Chinese smartphones like Huawei and ZTE out of crucial telecom network areas.

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People familiar with the topic told ET that India is considering a rule that would require the disassembly or in-depth testing of handsets to ensure that the devices and loaded apps are not spying on the country’s inhabitants.

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According to them, the move, which is perceived as a reprisal for China’s continuing aggression along the India-China border, might be in accordance with what the government has in place for telecom equipment

To prevent alleged cyber espionage, the government is establishing a list of trusted suppliers and trusted enterprises for telecom equipment and networking devices. Experts believe the decision is intended at keeping Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE out of crucial telecom network areas. While the law, if it comes to fruition, will encompass the entire industry, Chinese brands will be a focus, according to one of the people participating in the government’s initial talks.

“The government could make an exception for corporations from countries that share India’s borders,” the source added on the condition of anonymity.

Chinese companies such as Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Realme dominate the Indian handset industry. ET’s inquiries to these companies remained unanswered as of press time. Requests for information to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) were similarly ignored.

“The government does not want to scare businesses away, but it must assure that there are no security concerns.” “The Chinese should not have a problem with the security teardown if they believe their products are clean,” said a second source who did not want to be identified

According to sources close to the situation, the MeitY, the National Technical Research Organization, and other government entities are looking into the possibility of drafting such legislation. Industry organisations are also cooperating with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, and other government agencies, according to the report.

Also read : India Has The Most Prominent Number Of Cryptocurrency Users In The World, With More Than 10 Crore Users

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