The Indian government has taken decisive action against a dangerous new social media trend by directing major app stores to immediately remove applications being weaponized to disrupt public transport. The move follows a surge in viral “prank” videos across multiple online platforms showing individuals using their smartphones to remotely shut down moving e-rickshaws, creating immense distress for drivers and posing severe road safety hazards.
In an official statement, S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), confirmed that the government has issued formal directives to major application marketplaces to delist the problematic software. “There are a couple of apps which came to our notice, and both have been ordered to be taken down,” the official stated, adding that app stores need to exercise due care moving forward. The ministry also plans to engage directly with tech firms to implement preventative measures so that similar damaging applications do not slip through review pipelines in the future.
The applications in question were originally engineered for legitimate technical workflows, specifically to monitor Battery Management System (BMS) modules in electric vehicles. Developed by various manufacturers—including a Bluetooth-based battery monitoring tool from China-based tech firm Shenzhen Grenergy Technology—the applications allow users to run diagnostics, view real-time charge percentages, and check core metrics like temperature. However, users discovered that because these modules lack proper authentication, anyone within wireless range could connect to select Chinese-manufactured e-rickshaws and instantly cut off their power supply.
Legal experts have warned that misusing these diagnostic tools to stall passenger vehicles is a serious offense punishable under Sections 66 and 43 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Despite the government’s swift takedown orders, tech analysts observed that some variations of the software briefly remained discoverable on prominent storefronts, while independent Android APK repositories continue to present a lingering threat via sideloading.
