A Telangana Cyber Security Bureau tender requests Cellbrite and other intrusive forensic tools, including “brute-force” unlocking capabilities for mobile devices — civil liberties advocates warn of misuse.

Govt Tender Wants Phone-cracking Software

A recent tender issued by the Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau requests forensic and social-media monitoring packages — explicitly naming tools such as Cellbrite and listing capabilities to unlock devices via “brute force.” The procurement document seeks software, cables and adapters to extract data from Android and iOS handsets and demands methods to bypass secure startups on multiple chipsets.

Data researchers note these tools are widely used by investigators when device passwords are unavailable, but they also stress limits: newer models can resist such extraction (this point is from sources cited in the original report).

Buying powerful extraction software without transparent oversight risks normalising intrusive surveillance. Practically, the state should publish clear usage rules, independent audit mechanisms, and a public redress channel — otherwise citizens’ privacy and trust in institutions will erode.