Apple Risks Ire of Indian Government Over Refusal to Approve State's Anti-Spam App

[MacRumors]

Apple's refusal to approve the Indian government's anti-spam iPhone app has infuriated state regulators, which could work against the company's efforts to increase its market share in the country, a report on Wednesday revealed.

According to Bloomberg, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has so far been unable to get its Do Not Disturb (DND) software on the App Store. The app allows people to share spam call and text message logs with the agency, which then sends the data to mobile operators for them to block the spammers. However, Apple has told regulators that the app violates its privacy policy.

"Nobody's asking Apple to violate its privacy policy," said Ram Sewak Sharma, chairman of the Delhi-based telecom regulator. "It is a ridiculous situation, no company can be allowed to be the guardian of a user's data."

The regulator is currently seeking public and stakeholder comments on a consultative paper on users' control over their personal information and rules on the flow of data through telecommunications networks. The process, scheduled to be completed in September, could eventually lead to new rules governing user data. That could also become part of the telecom licensing process, Sharma said.

Apple has been in talks with the Indian government to open retail stores and to gain permission to sell used iPhones imported into the country. The company is also seeking economic concessions including tax breaks as it sets up local manufacturing plants there, but those efforts could be negatively impacted by Apple's refusal to approve the anti-spam software.

In 2016, Apple shipped 2.5 million iPhones in India, and this year one of its suppliers began assembling a limited number of iPhones in Bangalore. So far, India's government has declined Apple's request to import used iPhones and has yet to respond to the company's other demands.

Half a dozen meetings with Apple have reportedly failed to resolve the standoff over the anti-spam app. While Apple's privacy policy allows it to share user data with affiliates and strategic partners, Sharma said the Indian government's Do Not Disturb app only requires a limited, pre-approved level of data sharing. However, Apple's policy states that sharing data with any other entity isn't permitted.

"The problem of who controls user data is getting acute and we have to plug the loose ends," Sharma said. "This is not the regulator versus Apple, but Apple versus its own users."

Article Link: Apple Risks Ire of Indian Government Over Refusal to Approve State's Anti-Spam App

 

[Sunny1990]

Apple has been in talks with the Indian government to open retail stores and togain permission to sell used iPhones imported into the country.

It will be great if Apple open their official stores in India. The aftermarket Authorized stores sucks.

 

[danckwerts]

Perhaps Apple should revise its privacy rules. Users should be able to choose to share data with government agencies – or would some governments manipulate this and consider anyone who refuses to share a subversive?

 

[Superhai]

As personally felt how endemic spam calls are in India, I really urge Apple to join in the effort to root out the perpetrators.

 

[44267547]

It will be great if Apple open their official stores in India. The aftermarket Authorized stores sucks.

Genuinely Curious, How do you know that?

 

[justperry]

Genuinely Curious, How do you know that?

I don't know Indian stores ,it's been awhile since I have been there, but what I do know lots of stores (Apple resellers included) do suck in many parts of Asia, there are exceptions though.

 

[Madhava]

Genuinely Curious, How do you know that?

The charges are very high for any repair and the support is not that good.
Having an Apple store in main cities will make a big difference and increase confidence for Apple product buyers.

 

[44267547]

I don't know Indian stores ,it's been awhile since I have been there, but what I do know lots of stores (Apple resellers included) do suck in many parts of Asia, there are exceptions though.

That very well be and thanks for information. The reason I asked @Sunny1990 was because of the response he listed below in a discussion while back Regarding India's commerce. So his response geunuinely confuses me as to how he knows the service is poor in India. Perhaps he could clear the confusion.

I don't live in india, so I can't comment on what's going on there

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-next-few-months.2038294/page-4#post-24429568

 

[LarryBaker]

How is this different than the AT&T call protect app?

 

[0815]

Apple should have a anti-spam feature build into the phones. I live in the US and Spam calls have gotten worse here - even though legally they are not allowed to call cell phones. It’s mostly robot calls pretending to be from my credit card company or utility services.

The idea of the Indian app sounds great and as long as the user can choose what is being send it should be fine. Not sure what exactly the issue is - is the Indian goverment app maybe uploading the complete call log or anhything else that should not be in there?

 

[thasan]

Apple's refusal to approve the Indian government's anti-spam iPhone app has infuriated state regulators, which could work against the company's efforts to increase its market share in the country, a report on Wednesday revealed.

According to Bloomberg, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has so far been unable to get its Do Not Disturb (DND) software on the App Store. The app allows people to share spam call and text message logs with the agency, which then sends the data to mobile operators for them to block the spammers. However, Apple has told regulators that the app violates its privacy policy.
Apple has been in talks with the Indian government to open retail stores and to gain permission to sell used iPhones imported into the country. The company is also seeking economic concessions including tax breaks as it sets up local manufacturing plants there, but those efforts could be negatively impacted by Apple's refusal to approve the anti-spam software.

In 2016, Apple shipped 2.5 million iPhones in India, and this year one of its suppliers began assembling a limited number of iPhones in Bangalore. So far, India's government has declined Apple's request to import used iPhones and has yet to respond to the company's other demands.

Half a dozen meetings with Apple have reportedly failed to resolve the standoff over the anti-spam app. While Apple's privacy policy allows it to share user data with affiliates and strategic partners, Sharma said the Indian government's Do Not Disturb app only requires a limited, pre-approved level of data sharing. However, Apple's policy states that sharing data with any other entity isn't permitted.

"The problem of who controls user data is getting acute and we have to plug the loose ends," Sharma said. "This is not the regulator versus Apple, but Apple versus its own users."

Article Link: Apple Risks Ire of Indian Government Over Refusal to Approve State's Anti-Spam App

I have been receiving spam emails from indian government for the past two months.
just blocked them in my university spam filter two days ago after the unsubscribe button didnt work. and no, i am not indian.
the govt there should fix their own attitude first. jokers!

 

[makr]

What's the difference of this scheme and Truecaller app?

 

[Sunny1990]

That very well be and thanks for information. The reason I asked @Sunny1990 was because of the response he listed below in a discussion while back Regarding India's commerce. .

----------------------
Here is conversation between two guys :-

my iPhone 6 screen is broken

, its a little crack on the top right, the view is not interrupted but after spending nearly 50k 4 months back, I am deeply traumatized. what are my options?

Apple doesnt repair the phone. They will replace it outright for a fee, somewhere close to 25k for a replacement.
My suggestion is to look for a reliable after market source and get the repair done at half or less.
My uncles iphone 6 glass was replaced in bangkok( not the entire display unit) for 1.8k baht which is around 3.5k rupees.
Im not expecting such prices in India, but shouldn't cross 6 for just the glass, and probably 10-12 if they replace the entire unit

If you want more information you can breach through this thread. It's filled with complaints like this [expensive repair costs]
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/gadgets-computers-software/38465-iphone-thread-544.html
------------------------------

So his response geunuinely confuses me as to how he knows the service is poor in India. Perhaps he could clear the confusion

I own property/houses/cars in India but that doesn't mean i live in India.

 

[fullauto]

Now if only citizens in other countries could add their phone numbers to India’s Do Not Call register. Seriously 3-4 a day sometimes. Mostly ‘Problem with your PC’ calls or ‘Google AdWords’ scams.. ridiculous.

 

[Nilays39]

I live in india, and the thing is in the past the gov. Does not have good record about privacy concern. Even in my state in time of emergency thay have banne mobile internet for a week... So if Apple is opposing the thing than that make sence.

 

[kingpushup]

Nice ‘trai’, India. No way that you need this data for the stated goal of anti-spam.

We already have websites like this: whoscallingme, etc. India could create its own such narrowly tailored aggregator app of user-driven reporting of any number that such a user felt was spam and why.

However India’s stated anti-spam goal is only a proxy for more broader data gathering of all calls, and lengths and dates for ‘national security’, which itself is sometimes used as a proxy for gathering data to determine the guilt by association of minorities or political groups.

 

[err404]

How is this different than the AT&T call protect app?

This. There certainly isn't a technical reason that this can't be implemented, but rather some detail about the use of the data and its flow.
In any case, the Indian government should be approaching the service providers for this data. instead of dealing with every phone manufacturer and maintaining multiple iterations, just go to the source. Collect the data from the telcos and stop the calls from even reaching the users phone. Then just have a basic app or push notification to provide the stats to the user.
Personally I don't think the Indiana government has the authority to gather the data from the telcos, so they are making an end-around to the device manufacturers instead.

 

[Plutonius]

Send some money their way and all will be well .

I expect Apple to cave to India's demands.

 

[Jeremy1026]

"It is a ridiculous situation, no company can be allowed to be the guardian of a user's data."

A company 100% can, and should be allowed to protect their users data however they see fit. Just because other companies are in the business of selling user data doesn't mean that Apple needs to do the same.

 

[AZ63]

the govt there should fix their own attitude first. jokers!

What does that even mean?
It seems, according to the article, that the government is trying to help consumers to block spam and Apple won't allow it.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

"no company can be allowed to be the guardian of a user's data."

but trust us, we're the government

 

[justperry]

What does that even mean?
It seems, according to the article, that the government is trying to help consumers to block spam and Apple won't allow it.

Nice try, you don't know India nor their government.

 

[MrNomNoms]

This. There certainly isn't a technical reason that this can't be implemented, but rather some detail about the use of the data and its flow.
In any case, the Indian government should be approaching the service providers for this data. instead of dealing with every phone manufacturer and maintaining multiple iterations, just go to the source. Collect the data from the telcos and stop the calls from even reaching the users phone. Then just have a basic app or push notification to provide the stats to the user.
Personally I don't think the Indiana government has the authority to gather the data from the telcos, so they are making an end-around to the device manufacturers instead.

Or the alternative; you punish the telecommunications company who provides the telephone line/mobile phone service to the spammer - make the telecommunications company liable for enabling spammers in much the same way that operate open mail relays should be punished for providing cover to spammers.

 

[macTW]

"The problem of who controls user data is getting acute and we have to plug the loose ends," Sharma said. "This is not the regulator versus Apple, but Apple versus its own users."

I thought, being a government official, he's actually be smart... does he even know apple's demographic? Most of its users value this privacy and data control.

 

[drzen]

I presently live in India, and the situation with telemarketers and spam text messages is just egregious. I have never received a single spam text message in the US, but at least one daily is par for the course here. Spam calls are common, too, regardless of whether or not you registered on their Do Not Disturb online registry.

I don't see how this app is really going to improve the situation where your cellphone number is obviously being sold to third parties already.