New Delhi/Patna: The central government has ordered the removal of three mobile applications that were allegedly being misused to remotely disable battery-operated vehicles, following reports that the apps had caused disruptions to e-rickshaw operations.
According to PTI, citing official sources, the applications—BAT-BMS, Lossigy, and Epoc-Li-ion—have been removed from app stores after concerns were raised over their misuse.
MeitY Calls For Greater Scrutiny
Speaking on Friday, S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), said app stores should exercise greater caution to prevent potentially harmful applications from becoming available to users.
Responding to questions about apps allegedly linked to fraud involving e-rickshaws, Krishnan said the ministry became aware of the applications a day earlier and they were subsequently removed from app stores.
He added that the ministry would engage with app store operators to strengthen safeguards against applications that could pose risks to users or connected devices.
Concerns Over E-Rickshaw Disruptions
The move follows complaints from e-rickshaw drivers who reported that their vehicles were unexpectedly shutting down while in operation.
According to officials, certain applications were allegedly being misused to interfere with battery-operated vehicles remotely, disrupting their functioning and causing inconvenience to drivers.
The reported incidents also raised concerns about passenger safety, as sudden vehicle shutdowns could create hazardous situations on busy roads.
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Focus On User Safety
The ministry’s intervention comes amid increasing scrutiny of digital applications capable of interacting with connected devices.
Officials said greater vigilance by app stores would help reduce the risk of potentially harmful software reaching consumers and being exploited for misuse or cyber-related offences.
