The Indian government acts on reports that some e-rickshaws can be remotely disabled using a smartphone app associated with battery management. Multiple outlets report that public attention increases after viral videos and claims that e-rickshaws are rendered inoperable through a remote shutdown feature linked to the Chinese app BAT-BMS. Authorities say they remove apps from app stores after concerns are raised about their potential cybersecurity misuse, including scenarios where Bluetooth-enabled connections to battery systems are exploited.
Government officials cited in the reports say the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) directs app stores to take down the relevant applications and urges platforms to improve due diligence and scrutiny to prevent harmful apps from being available. In some reporting, officials mention removal of two apps; other reports cite a broader set of Chinese battery-management applications, including BAT-BMS and others. NDTV also reports that while the government says the apps have been taken down, verification by its staff finds at least one app still listed on Apple’s App Store and Google Play at the time of checking.
Overall, the government’s response focuses on app removals and ongoing cybersecurity investigation into the underlying vulnerability in vehicle battery management systems and how unsecured connectivity may be abused.
