The Indian government has banned three Chinese applications—BAT-BMS, Lossigy, and Epoch-i-ion—after they were misused to remotely disable e-rickshaws, leading to significant traffic disruptions across multiple cities. The apps, originally designed for testing Bluetooth-enabled lithium-ion batteries, were exploited by miscreants as pranks, causing e-rickshaws to stop mid-road.
Misuse of Battery Management Apps
According to government officials, the apps were intended for legitimate battery diagnostics but were repurposed by individuals to send shutdown commands to e-rickshaws equipped with compatible Bluetooth batteries. The pranks gained traction on social media, where influencers shared reels of the incidents to attract views and monetize content. This exacerbated the problem, leading to widespread inconvenience for e-rickshaw drivers and commuters.
Government Intervention
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) directed Google and Apple to remove the three apps from their respective app stores under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which allows the government to block content in the interest of public order. A senior government official stated, "We have taken immediate action to curb this misuse. The apps posed a threat to public safety and caused unnecessary traffic congestion."
Impact on E-Rickshaw Drivers
Thousands of e-rickshaw owners faced hardships as their vehicles were remotely disabled, often in the middle of busy intersections. The incidents were reported in cities like Delhi, Noida, and Lucknow, leading to traffic jams and financial losses for drivers who depend on daily earnings. The E-Rickshaw Drivers' Association estimated that over 500 vehicles were affected in a single week, with each driver losing an average of ₹1,000 per day due to downtime.
Current Status of Apps
At the time of reporting, BAT-BMS and Lossigy were still available on the Apple App Store, while Epoch-i-ion was not accessible. Google confirmed it had removed the apps from the Play Store, and Apple stated it was reviewing the government's request. The government has warned that further legal action will be taken against any platform that continues to host the banned apps.
