Govt orders removal of unauthorised e-rickshaw battery management apps from app stores to protect consumers
New Delhi, July 22
The government has taken cognisance of reports regarding the misuse of certain Battery Management System mobile applications that enabled unauthorised remote control of e-rickshaw batteries, as per the official release.
On July 3, the Government issued orders for the removal of such applications on app stores.
Further, the Government has institutionalised a nationwide integrated and coordinated framework to strengthen cybersecurity and digital resilience across digital ecosystems, which, inter alia, includes: National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) under the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) to ensure coordination related to cybersecurity amongst different agencies.
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is designated as the national agency for responding to cybersecurity incidents under the provisions of section 70B of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.
National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC), implemented by CERT-In, examines cyberspace to detect cyber security threats. It shares the information with concerned organisations, state governments and stakeholder agencies for taking action.
The Government has established the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) for protection of critical information infrastructure in the country under the provisions of section 70A of the IT Act, 2000.
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, was enacted to modernise the framework governing consumer protection in the era of globalisation, technologies, e-commerce markets, etc.
'Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA)' project is implemented by MeitY for strengthening human resources in the area of Information Security and creating general awareness. Awareness material on various aspects of cyber hygiene & cyber security is disseminated through portals such as www.staysafeonline.in, www.infosecawareness.in and www.csk.gov.in.
This information was submitted by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Jitin Prasada, in Lok Sabha on July 22.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some action! These apps were a scam waiting to happen. Imagine an auto-wala's battery getting remotely disabled in the middle of traffic. 🚦 Kudos to CERT-In and NCSC for stepping in. Also, glad to see cybersecurity awareness portals like staysafeonline.in being promoted.
Good intention but execution is key. The government should also mandate that all e-rickshaw batteries sold in India should have basic cybersecurity standards. Right now, many Chinese-made batteries come with pre-installed shady software. Also, how many rural e-rickshaw drivers even know about cyber hygiene?🤔
I'm a software engineer and this is a classic IoT security issue. Glad to see India taking this seriously. However, the Consumer Protection Act 2019 needs to be actively used to penalize app developers who create such malicious apps. The framework is there, now enforce it!
This is a good start, but why only e-rickshaw apps? What about all those other IoT devices and their apps? Smart meters, streetlights, etc. India needs a comprehensive product cybersecurity law. Also, the ISEA project budget needs to be increased tenfold for real impact.
As someone who uses e-rickshaw daily in Delhi, this is welcome news. These apps were literally a ticking time bomb. 🎯 But the government should also focus on educating the battery manufacturers and dealers. They are the ones who install these apps on unsuspecting drivers' phones.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.