Pranks gone rogue: Govt pulls down apps that halt e-rickshaws
A free run for pranksters disabling e-rickshaws using Chinese apps has come to an end. Realising the seriousness of the hazard posed by these stunts, the Government cracked down, ordering the removal of several mobile applications - including BAT BMS, SMART BMS, LOSSIGY and Epoch Li-ion - from both the Android Play Store and Apple App Store.
The strict action came after several videos on social media, mainly in the national capital, went viral in which teenagers and youngsters are using a Chinese app to stop e-rickshaws from working.
The process is simple: open the mobile application, connect to the nearest battery via Bluetooth, and activate the discharge switch. A single tap switches off the vehicle. The driver is left confused and stranded. The driver can restart the e-rickshaw only when it is switched back on through the same application. On the streets, though, this social media ‘trend’ has created a real hazard.
Confirming that action has been taken in the matter, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of India (MEITY) MeitY Secretary S Krishnan said, “That is right...there are a couple of apps, which came to our notice yesterday and both of them have been taken down from the app stores.” He was speaking on the sidelines of a CII Cybersecurity summit. He said the Government will take up this issue with the app stores to ensure potentially harmful applications do not come up in the public domain.
These videos sparked widespread concerns over the cybersecurity risks posed by such internet-connected vehicle management systems.
BAT BMS and Epoch Li-ion are battery management apps that connect via Bluetooth and aid in remotely shutting down lithium-ion batteries. The apps are being used to carry out a “prank” and disable moving vehicles. BAT-BMS works within a Bluetooth range of roughly 15 metres and can connect to multiple batteries simultaneously. The app itself is marketed as a battery monitoring and management utility rather than a vehicle control application. Some BMS units lacked password protection or robust authentication, allowing anyone within Bluetooth range to pair with the battery and disable its discharge function, effectively immobilising the vehicle.
Lossigy and Epoch-i-ion (Epoch Li-ion) are similar BMS applications used with Bluetooth-enabled lithium batteries from other manufacturers.
Many e-rickshaw drivers operating across Delhi’s busy Metro corridors say they are living in fear after a smartphone application allegedly began shutting down their vehicles in the middle of the road without warning, leaving them stranded amid speeding traffic and exposing passengers to the risk of serious accidents.
Following the circulation of the videos, the Delhi Government has ordered a probe into the claims. Drivers plying on some of Delhi’s busiest routes said that an unexpected shutdown on arterial roads could prove fatal as vehicles often travel close behind e-rickshaws, leaving little time to react.
Shree Ram, who ferries passengers between Punjabi Bagh West Metro and Peeragarhi Metro, said the route witnesses heavy traffic throughout the day and e-rickshaws often have to wait for passengers on both ends. “I have heard that several e-rickshaws suddenly stopped on the main road. When a vehicle comes to a halt in the middle of traffic, it becomes dangerous as speeding vehicles approach from behind,” Ram said. He said the situation could turn fatal for both passengers and drivers. “We constantly fear that someone may ram into us from behind,” he said.
Ankush Kumar, who operates between West Enclave and Pitampura, said he initially believed repeated shutdowns were due to a battery malfunction.
“My e-rickshaw kept switching off. I thought there was a battery fault and spent Rs 500 to get it checked, but no defect was found. Later, I came to know that everything was happening because of this Chinese app. When the vehicle stops, passengers refuse to pay and simply board another e-rickshaw. What may look like a joke to some people has become life-threatening for us on the road,” he said.
Kumar said drivers were not only suffering financial losses but were also under constant mental stress while driving in congested traffic.
Another e-rickshaw driver, Anuj Kumar, who operates on the Kohat Enclave-Netaji Subhash Place route, claimed that some people were allegedly locking batteries through the application.
“Some people are locking the battery using the app. Now, e-rickshaw drivers also have to download the same application to unlock it in an emergency. Sometimes only the person who has the app can unlock the battery. It is creating huge problems for drivers. If the e-rickshaw stops on the main road, it becomes a major safety risk. Police should take action against such app users,” Kumar added.
According to a senior Delhi Government official, the app is primarily designed to monitor battery parameters such as voltage, temperature and current in real time, but its control functions could be misused on systems that lack adequate authentication.
“There is no password or authentication. As a result, cutting the power output and bringing the vehicle to a sudden halt becomes easy,” the official said.
Govt summons Meta over CSAM ads
New Delhi: IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials in his Ministry to summon Meta over Instagram ads promoting child sexual abuse material. The IT Ministry will seek an explanation from Meta on the issue, they added. This is the second instance this week when the Government has turned up the heat on Meta.
On Wednesday, the Centre issued a notice to Meta questioning the planned username feature on WhatsApp, citing concerns that it could materially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks. It directed the platform to pause the feature until consultations on the issue are completed “to the satisfaction of the Government”.
The Centre had also asked Meta to explain why action shouldn’t be initiated under the IT Act and rules over WhatsApp’s new feature that may increase cybercrimes. The Government also reminded Meta that WhatsApp, as a significant social media intermediary, is bound by due diligence obligations under the IT Act and rules.