Google, Apple Ordered by Govt to Remove 7 Apps Used to Remotely Shut Down E-Rickshaws

The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued official notices to tech giants Google and Apple, directing them to remove at least seven battery management applications from their respective app stores. According to senior government sources, the action follows reports that these applications are being widely misused to remotely shut down the batteries of electric rickshaws and other light electric vehicles, stranded drivers mid-journey.

Among the flagged applications are BAT-BMS, SMART BMS, and LOSSIGY. The regulatory move was triggered after several videos went viral on Indian social media showing pranksters exploiting unsecured Bluetooth connections to disable moving e-rickshaws with a single tap on their smartphones. Meta Summoned by MeitY Over Instagram Ads Allegedly Promoting Child S*xual Abuse Material.

The Security Flaw Behind the E-Rickshaw Disruption

Officials clarified that Battery Management System (BMS) applications are standard tools designed for legitimate purposes, such as monitoring battery health, voltage, temperature, and charging cycles. However, a significant loophole exists in low-cost lithium-ion battery packs widely deployed in the Indian market.

Many of these battery packs are shipped from manufacturers without password protection or continue to run on factory-default credentials. Because the applications communicate via Bluetooth, anyone standing within a 10-to-15-meter radius can easily pair with an unprotected battery system and abuse the app's control panel to cut off power output entirely.

Government Intervenes to Protect Public Safety

The unexpected stoppages have raised severe public safety alarms and disrupted the daily livelihoods of thousands of e-rickshaw operators, many of whom rent their vehicles and rely on uninterrupted daily earnings. Speaking on the development, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan confirmed that the government took swift notice of the threat. He stated that platforms are expected to maintain due diligence, ensuring that hosted software does not compromise public safety or facilitate unlawful vehicle tampering. After WhatsApp, Govt Sends Notices to Telegram, Signal Over Username Features.

E-Rickshaw Battery Apps Under Scanner

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued notice to Google Android and Apple iOS to remove 7 applications from their App Store for misuse of apps for shutting down batteries in e-rickshaws/vehicles. Apps like BAT-BMS, SMART BMS, LOSSIGY: Sources pic.twitter.com/X5N7opwgli

— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2026

Interestingly, the government is not invoking Section 69A of the Information Technology Act—the traditional clause used to block apps on national security grounds. Instead, officials stated that continued hosting of these apps after receiving a notice could legally strip Google and Apple of their "safe harbour" intermediary immunities under Section 79 of the IT Act, effectively making them liable for the real-world disruptions caused by the software.

Broader Scrutiny of Connected EV Frameworks

India has seen a massive surge in the adoption of electric three-wheelers for affordable urban and semi-urban last-mile connectivity. However, this sudden wave of digital pranking has exposed a major gap in hardware ecosystem safety.

While initial compliance has seen a few apps already taken down, MeitY is currently examining similar connected-device applications on both platforms to root out further vulnerabilities. Simultaneously, transport authorities are verifying the technical origin of these tools and evaluating whether stricter compliance standards are required for EV battery manufacturers importing or assembling Bluetooth-enabled packs in India.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 03, 2026 08:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).