Is your Realme phone secretly collecting your data? User claims, government orders probe

In the tweet, a Twitter user has also shared a screenshot which shows that the feature is ‘on’ by default on Realme phones. In case you want to check whether the feature, which he mentioned, is enabled or not on your phone, you can go to Settings> Additional settings> System services.

Now, almost every smartphone and mobile app has some access to your data like location. They are usually offered under the general argument that there is a need to offer better services and experiences to the user. But usually the user is given a choice whether they want to share that data or not. The issue becomes a concern if the user is not aware that his/her data is being tracked without his/her knowledge.

“The Realme smartphone has a feature (Enhanced Smart Services) that captures the user’s data (call logs, SMS, and location information) and is “On” by default. You can only see this “on” by default feature when you go to Settings -> Additional Settings -> System Services -> Enhanced Smart Services. Indian users are kept in the dark to have their data shared without their permission. This is essentially a mandatory consent, since it is on by default. Is this data being sent to China?,” the user writes in the tweet.

In the next event, the tweet caught the eye of IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who says he will investigate the matter. “Will this be tested and checked,” the monster responded to Bagree’s tweet.

The smartphone brand Realme has yet to respond to the accusations. But other smartphone users responded to the tweet, and saw the same feature enabled on their phones. “This is enabled by default with One plus phone too,” said one user. “Also on Oppo Reno. Found and turned off,” another user wrote .

Updated: 18 June 2023, 01:42 PM IST