Indian regulator accuses Apple of anti-consumer conduct

Apple stands accused of behaviour that is not in the best interest of consumers by an Indian authority.

Writing in the Times of India, Pankaj Doval reported that the country’s Telecom Regulatory Authority TRAI has accused the iPhone manufacturer of being involved in “data colonisation” in India. It has also deemed Apple as “anti-consumer” by not allowing customers to forward details about harassing calls and unwanted messages to authorities, in addition to their mobile operators.

Doval goes on to say that the matter has been discussed for the past year, with a resolution yet to be reached. The incident has now developed to the stage where the chairman of TRAI, R.S. Sharma, has openly attacked the U.S. technology firm.

Sharma reportedly told the Times of India: “While Google’s Android supports our Do-Not-Disturb (DND) app, Apple has just been discussing, discussing, and discussing. They have not done anything.”

According to Doval, the app has the ability to gather call records and SMS data from an individual by accessing call-log records and the phone’s message column. This would make it possible for a user to report a number making annoying phone calls or sending unsolicited SMS messages directly to TRAI from the app, ensuring that action can be taken.

Sharma claimed that Apple was not permitting such a convergence on its iOS platform, causing exasperation among users of the company’s devices. He added that if a client wanted to share financial information with his or her bank for obtaining a loan, there was no reason it should not be allowed.

Sharma went on to say: “So basically you (Apple) are violating the right of the user to willingly share his/her own data with the regulator or with any third party of his/her choice. This is what we call data colonisation.”

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