TRAI anti-spam app rules could force iPhones off Indian phone networks
Apple's reluctance to allow a spam-reporting iOS app from India's Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI) onto the App Store may be bad news to its customers, after the regulator introduced a new policy that could force carriers to ban iPhones from their mobile networks if the app isn't accepted.
The new "Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference" regulation intends to cut down the number of nuisance or fraudulent calls in India, as well as unwanted marketing text messages and other spam. Part of the regulations overhaul is a requirement for carriers to allow customers to download a "Do Not Disturb" app to their devices to help combat spam, including reporting violations and setting subscription preferences for messages.
Spotted by India Today, the regulation also includes language that could affect user's devices if the app is not allowed to be downloaded.
"Every access provider shall ensure, within six months' time, that all smart phone devices registered on its network support the permissions required for the functioning of such apps," the regulation states. "Provided that where such devices do not permit functioning of such apps, Access Providers shall, on the order or direction of the Authority, derecognize such devices from their telecom networks."
While not directly targeting Apple, the language of the regulation effectively means that Apple must provide access to the TRAI DND 2.0 app, or else the regulator could order carriers in the country to remove iPhones from its network. As TRAI can directly regulate carriers but not device vendors, this is one of relatively few ways the regulator can try to penalize smartphone makers like Apple.
So far, Apple has been reluctant to add the Do Not Disturb app to the App Store, and while at one point the company was collaborating with the regulator, it became apparent in March that the app would not be allowed in the store at all. At the time, Apple advised the app "violates the privacy policy" of the App Store, but insisted it was working with government engineers and discussing ways the app could be designed to "keep user's personal data safe."
Under the App Store rules, third-party apps are not allowed to see call logs or text messages, but are able to access saved contacts. Apple has previously advised it would not bend its policy in this case, for the sake of user privacy.
While Apple is refusing to allow the app to be used on iPhones in the country, the same cannot be said for other smartphone producers. The Do Not Disturb app has been available to download to Android devices since 2016.
India is an important country for Apple's growth, with the iPhone SE produced in the region for sale to the local market. In June, it was reported Apple had started commercial production of a second iPhone model with local partner Wistron, with the iPhone 6s apparently destined to be sold in the country.
Despite the production efforts, Apple is apparently struggling to improve iPhone sales, and recently lost three executives working in the country.
The new "Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference" regulation intends to cut down the number of nuisance or fraudulent calls in India, as well as unwanted marketing text messages and other spam. Part of the regulations overhaul is a requirement for carriers to allow customers to download a "Do Not Disturb" app to their devices to help combat spam, including reporting violations and setting subscription preferences for messages.
Spotted by India Today, the regulation also includes language that could affect user's devices if the app is not allowed to be downloaded.
"Every access provider shall ensure, within six months' time, that all smart phone devices registered on its network support the permissions required for the functioning of such apps," the regulation states. "Provided that where such devices do not permit functioning of such apps, Access Providers shall, on the order or direction of the Authority, derecognize such devices from their telecom networks."
While not directly targeting Apple, the language of the regulation effectively means that Apple must provide access to the TRAI DND 2.0 app, or else the regulator could order carriers in the country to remove iPhones from its network. As TRAI can directly regulate carriers but not device vendors, this is one of relatively few ways the regulator can try to penalize smartphone makers like Apple.
So far, Apple has been reluctant to add the Do Not Disturb app to the App Store, and while at one point the company was collaborating with the regulator, it became apparent in March that the app would not be allowed in the store at all. At the time, Apple advised the app "violates the privacy policy" of the App Store, but insisted it was working with government engineers and discussing ways the app could be designed to "keep user's personal data safe."
Under the App Store rules, third-party apps are not allowed to see call logs or text messages, but are able to access saved contacts. Apple has previously advised it would not bend its policy in this case, for the sake of user privacy.
While Apple is refusing to allow the app to be used on iPhones in the country, the same cannot be said for other smartphone producers. The Do Not Disturb app has been available to download to Android devices since 2016.
India is an important country for Apple's growth, with the iPhone SE produced in the region for sale to the local market. In June, it was reported Apple had started commercial production of a second iPhone model with local partner Wistron, with the iPhone 6s apparently destined to be sold in the country.
Despite the production efforts, Apple is apparently struggling to improve iPhone sales, and recently lost three executives working in the country.
Comments
There is more to this though. It seems the app is not complaint with App Store rules because of how it handles your information.
India has always a bit prone to impose rules on its citizens like any other country floundering from too much socialism and crony corruption, but do not think western countries are far behind. I’ve been around a while now and I am astonished how willing the youth of today are to allow government to insert itself into their lives, be it food or lifestyle choices, even thoughts and what you can be allowed to say. And there is the ever growing armies of regulatory agencies, a new priesthood keen to exert their pious will. For our own good of course. Parasites that will kill the host.
This lot seem a good example. Who doesn’t want to be bothered by annoying telemarketers? Sounds good, but what else is the app doing? Why must it operate the way the regulator wants it to, which it seems is not complaint with Apple’s privacy rules? And why does the regulator have the right to force an entity that does not indulge in telemarketing to do something about it? Classic overreach by priesthood regulators. For our own good comrades.
While I doubt the government of India is anything but sincere in its attempt to reduce unwanted email/texts/calls, the potential for abuse with this app approach — compared to the privacy-respecting “block this caller/text sender” function already in iPhones now — is high. While it’s a bit more work, the US and other governments already have systems in place to fight nuisance calls, nuisance texts, and spammers, and there has been progress. I hope Apple can find a way to get the Indian government to understand the issue, but given their sales in the country — it might be necessary to call their bluff and pull up stakes in India if the government won’t work with them on a privacy-respecting solution.
It is not mandatory to install the app.
An an example might be the Health app, which collects vast amount of personal data. Such an app for spam can collect the information, and the user can decide what if any data is sent, on a voluntary bases to regulators.
but that’s a lot of work. One level of filtering turns out to be too coarse, or catches too many legit emails.