Govt sends notice to Xiaomi, Apple, 19 others over user privacy hacking concerns

The Indian Government has reportedly issued notice over the hacking fears of user’s private data to almost all smartphone manufacturing companies, which includes a majority of Chinese Companies like Xiaomi, Oppo, Gionee and Vivo.

An approximate number of 21 smartphone makers has been included in the list, the non-Chinese manufacturers like Samsung, Apple and the Indian Manufacturers like, Micromax which sells a good amount of smartphones in the country, also include to get the notice from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The take is in evidently due to the alliance between the China and India, as India is a huge market of Chinese Smartphones, and increasing threat connected into hacking important personal information from user’s devices.

“The companies have been given time till August 28 to file compliance with the security norms. We may also conduct an audit to ensure that they are in compliance,” – a senior IT Ministry official quoted in the report.

Further, they also warn the company’s pointing out the penalties under provisions of IT Act 43 (A) once if they fail to follow the notice within given time. The law can charge unlimited compensation and penalties of Rs. 5 crores through state level arbitrators.

As per the latest study by the industry chamber CII report, India imports massive import of Electronics and Information Technology products from China worth more than USD 22 billion.

The IT Ministry has forwarded this notice instruction to 21 companies includes the Indian Manufacturer Micromax while the Majority appears to be Chinese Smartphone Manufacturers.

“Any device sold in the country should be compliant with global security standards. If companies fail to comply, further action will be taken,”- An Unnamed Official quoted at the meet.

This step was after the IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had called a meeting on August 14 of senior officials in the department.

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