Governments will increasingly use mandatory, non‑removable preinstalled apps to assert sovereignty over consumer devices, turning handset supply chains into arms of national policy. This creates recurring vendor–state clashes, fragments user security defaults across countries, and concentrates sensitive device data in state‑controlled backends.
— If it spreads, the practice will reshape global platform rules, consumer privacy expectations, and export/legal friction between governments and major device makers.
BeauHD
2025.12.03
90% relevant
The article reports India’s secret order to require preinstallation of the Sanchar Saathi app and its rapid rescission after public backlash — exactly the tactic described by the existing idea whereby governments use mandatory preloads to assert control and create persistent access on consumer devices. The actor (India Ministry of Communication), the demanded product behavior (non‑removable preinstall), and the subsequent political pushback directly instantiate the prior concept.
msmash
2025.12.01
100% relevant
India’s Nov. 28 telecom order requiring Sanchar Saathi be preinstalled and non‑disablable on all new phones within 90 days — a direct instance of a state forcing device‑level controls.
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