The government has asked for source code from smartphone companies under 83 new security rules. Its purpose is to increase security from cyber attacks. Companies are opposing the move citing intellectual property (IP) and privacy concerns.
New Delhi: Mobile companies have opposed the new demands of the Central Government like sharing the source code of smartphones. According to the report of news agency Reuters, the government has directed phone companies to share the source code of the device and make major changes in their software. It has also been said in the news of Reuters that this step of the government has caused a lot of concern and opposition among global smartphone companies like Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi.
83 safety rules
According to the information, to strengthen the digital security of smartphone users, the Government of India has suggested 83 security rules, including checking of source code, under the Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR). According to this, companies will have to share the source code of their devices with the government. It is claimed that its aim is to make smartphones secure digital devices to protect them from cyber attacks, data theft and espionage.
Why are companies protesting?
Many smartphone companies have opposed this new step. Companies argue that these rules are not only impractical, but also pose a major threat to data privacy in the name of security. Companies are also raising concerns about intellectual property rights (IP). Source code is the biggest trade secret of any company. Companies fear that sharing this may make their technology public. Apart from this, companies say that continuously running malware scanning tools in the background of the phone will drain the phone’s battery quickly and also reduce the processing speed. Tech companies also say that even in markets with strict rules like the European Union, America and Australia, there are no such provisions.
there will be a meeting soon
The safety rules prepared by the Central Government in 2023 have now become a topic of discussion. The government is considering implementing them legally. According to reports, the IT Ministry and tech executives will hold a meeting on Tuesday for further talks.