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India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

reuters.com

241–250 of 783 posts

Re: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

#241

I'm shocked by people and state using the crutch of cyber crime or scams to push a totalitarian solution to a problem that is better solved by improved education and targeted campaigns against common security pitfalls. I abhor any decision that robs even a grain of my individual freedom.

> I'm shocked India is currently run by a nationalist regime headed by the so called "butcher of Gujarat"[1], there isn't much that would shock me wrt to that lot's totalitarian tendencies. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_image_of_Narendra_Modi

He has been the PM For last 11 years. Your so called labelling doesn't stand scrutiny. India is prospering, with problems, but prospering for every religion sect and culture

Re: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

#242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm shocked India is currently run by a nationalist regime headed by the so called "butcher of Gujarat"[1], there isn't much that would shock me wrt to that lot's totalitarian tendencies. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_image_of_Narendra_Modi

Mate, this isn't even remotely "nationalist". This stuff is being pushed across the world. Digital ID? The only people really desperate for it are our rulers.

How so? In Sweden we have digital ID and it's great! Super practical and I struggle to think of how it would be used to spy on citizens, given that it has the same legal protections as banks have regarding your account transactions etc.

Like sure you could in theory see every document I've ever signed if you have a warrant for BankID servers, but you could probably glean most of that if you had a warrant for the banks servers anyway, so it's not really a new capability.

Re: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

#243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's funny how it's all rolling out right around the same time. Almost like they get together and plot this stuff at big meetings multiple times a year, where they get lavish meals and entertainment, get wined and dined by the rich and elite, and... well. Must be good to be kings. It's really 4 horsemen of the infocalypse garbage being trotted out, and the general population is clueless and credulous. "They're in cha…

>"They're in charge, surely they must know what they're doing! They wouldn't lie to us! Literally nobody thinks that. Unfortunately most people don't have the time or energy to fight every emerging attack on freedom. Everything is going to plan for the billionaire class. Eventually everything will burn, only time will tell if it will be from global warming or food riots.

>> "They're in charge, surely they must know what they're doing! They wouldn't lie to us!

> Literally nobody thinks that.

I'd have to disagree; I'd say this is the modal perspective.

Re: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

#244
post #79

What does this app actually do, in detail? Anyone know?

This seems to be the app: https://www.sancharsaathi.gov.in/ Looks like it's quire popular/established already, with over 10 million downloads. Basically a "portal" for basic digital safety/hygiene related services. Quoting Perplexity regarding what facilities the app offers: 1. Chakshu: Report suspicious calls, SMS, or WhatsApp for scams like impersonation, fake investments, or KYC frauds. 2. Block Lost/Stolen Phones…

> 4. Verify Device Genuineness: Confirm if a phone (new or used) is authentic before purchase.

    DisplayDialog("Yup, perfectly genuine, trust me!");
:-)

Re: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

#245

I'm shocked by people and state using the crutch of cyber crime or scams to push a totalitarian solution to a problem that is better solved by improved education and targeted campaigns against common security pitfalls. I abhor any decision that robs even a grain of my individual freedom.

Assuming it would do the stated job in addition to being a state way to your phone - it is a better solution, you ain't gonna educate you grandma easily, but if she can buy phone that protects her without having to look for it...

...of course, it won't work and even if they honestly tried it will be outpaced by scam industry. Or at worst case be state exploit that then will be exploited by other state (or just malicious actors) coz of lack of security in "security" software

Re: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

#246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

"Brahminical Hindus" is new concept I heard for the first time. From an academic perspective, I would more than likely challenge the word "hindu" being used as a religion name. Most religions are more defined/codified. At the end of the day its all a tool to manage power/people, boundaries or groups can be created with almost any data point. Your comment/observation just happens to define/declare one new type of boun…

"Brahminical Hindus" is typical of a phrase concocted by poorly informed western professors like Dr. Audrey Truschke, PhD, to sell books.

Re: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

#247
post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The lack of digital ID is a huge problem in many domains and enables a lot of scams and crime in the first place. Requiring identification in situations that don't need it is where the problems start, but that's possible with analog IDs as well, and is often even worse there (since these provide neither security against digital copies, nor privacy, which digital ID can, e.g. via zero knowledge proofs).

It's like people want to hand over scans of their passport and/or driving license to random businesses again and again, every time the need to prove who they are; and have their ID documents littered in Outlook mailboxes or company file shares with zero permissions. Or be forced to install yet another ID app from a private service that requires you have an iPhone or "compatible" Android. The debate about this in the…

> It has always received weirdly vitriolic push back.

Because, as the Home Secretary herself observed, it would fundamentally change the relationship between the individual and the state.

> What really is the Government going to do with a digital ID service that they can't do already?

This gives the impression of having done no research into a topic of which you now opine opposition to be "weirdly vitriolic". We live in an age of search engines and GPTs, free encyclopaedias and entire lecture series online, and even libraries are still open and free, but you've done nothing to get past the very first thoughts you've had on the subject.

Was that weirdly vitriolic, or someone pointing out that an argument to undermine everyone's rights should have some effort behind it?

Re: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

#248

I'm shocked by people and state using the crutch of cyber crime or scams to push a totalitarian solution to a problem that is better solved by improved education and targeted campaigns against common security pitfalls. I abhor any decision that robs even a grain of my individual freedom.

> solved by improved education

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Delhi_car_explosion

Planned and executed by highly educated, qualified, doctors.

Re: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

#249

I'm shocked by people and state using the crutch of cyber crime or scams to push a totalitarian solution to a problem that is better solved by improved education and targeted campaigns against common security pitfalls. I abhor any decision that robs even a grain of my individual freedom.

> I'm shocked India is currently run by a nationalist regime headed by the so called "butcher of Gujarat"[1], there isn't much that would shock me wrt to that lot's totalitarian tendencies. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_image_of_Narendra_Modi

[flagged]

Re: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app

#250

Sounds so authoritarian. Luckily, in the UK you only have to scan your face and ID to access cat photos.

It's all happening really quickly, so I haven't been able to keep up. I know Starmer said that digital ID will be mandatory to work in the UK. Did he mention how that would be implemented? Is the UK going to issue and official device to everyone in country, or are the people supposed to pay for it? What about homeless, poor, and the provisional residents?

I assume that almost everyone in the UK who is able to work has a smartphone already.

If they were to require digital ID for pensions or disability benefits there would be more problems.

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