New Delhi, July 3 (APAC Media): The Central Government has launched a probe following reports that some E-Rickshaw were being remotely switched off using a Chinese smartphone application.
The reports have raised concerns over passenger safety, cybersecurity, and the growing use of connected vehicle technologies.
As an immediate measure, the government has removed two applications, including BAT-BMS, from app stores after they came under its notice.
Confirming the action, IT Secretary S. Krishnan said the apps were taken down soon after the issue was flagged.
“There are a couple of apps which came to our notice yesterday, and both of them have been taken down from the app stores,” said S. Krishnan while speaking on the sidelines of the CII Cybersecurity Summit.
Krishnan said the government will also engage with app store operators to ensure stronger scrutiny of applications before they are made available to users.
He stressed that platforms must exercise greater due diligence, particularly when apps have the potential to affect public safety or critical services.
The issue came to light after reports suggested that certain e-rickshaws were being rendered inoperable through a remote shutdown feature linked to the BAT-BMS application.
The alleged incidents raised fears that vehicles could be stopped even while carrying passengers, disrupting livelihoods and posing safety risks.
The reports have also sparked a broader debate over the cybersecurity of connected electric vehicles and the extent of remote access available through third-party applications.
With the apps now removed, government agencies are examining whether existing safeguards are sufficient and if additional regulatory measures are needed to prevent the misuse of such technologies.
The development marks one of the first instances of the Centre intervening over concerns related to the remote control of connected e-rickshaws.
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