India scraps order to pre-install state-run cyber safety app on smartphones
204 points by wolpoli 3 days ago | 67 comments
  • nephihaha 3 days ago |
    If this means what I think it does, it's good news... But unfortunately, I've a nasty feeling that this will be attempted again and again until it sticks.

    We shouldn't call it "cyber safety" as that is a loaded phrase here. Obviously other considerations were part of it.

    • subscribed 3 days ago |
      They'll wait for UK/AU/EU to enforce one first.

      Like with the chat control in the EU now, the foot is already blocking the door

      • MonkeyClub 3 days ago |
        Yeah, I'm with sateesh in a sibling comment in that this is a win for the digital citizenry's awareness, but I also agree with you that when the EU caves in everyone else will follow.

        And I'm sure in the end it will cave in. The "they" have a clear plan supported by infinitely more patience and resources than the "us" can muster, and the von der Leyen presidency has shown clear signs of direction towards more control, less privacy (by weakening the GDPR), and less of the good kind of regulation in industry.

        As an EU citizen, I'm very unhappy with the Union's recent direction.

        But, at least for now, hooray for the temporary victory on the Indian front!

  • Arnt 3 days ago |
    The app itself seems to be a reinvention of https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/connectivity-for-g... which is good I suppose, but why not use the original registry?
    • kylehotchkiss 3 days ago |
      Appetite for `Make in India` and favor for homegrown solutions. Indian gov/companies is more capable of delivering a solution better suited for the many local languages. Instead of mandating, they should just try to put some more minds together and make a general purpose India super app to help citizens access gov services that isn't PayTM.
      • Arnt 17 hours ago |