Preloaded State Apps as Device Sovereignty

Governments are increasingly trying to assert 'device sovereignty' by ordering vendors to preload state‑run apps that cannot be disabled. These mandates act as a low‑cost way to insert state software into private hardware, creating persistent surveillance or control channels unless vendors resist or legal constraints exist. — If normalized, preinstall orders will accelerate a splintered device ecosystem, force firms into geopolitical arbitrage, and make privacy protections contingent on where a device is sold rather than universal standards.