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Realme is pushing a new software update to disable enhanced intelligent services on select models. Phones such as the Realme 11 Pro and the Realme 11 Pro+ have started receiving a software patch that automatically disables the service without requiring any user intervention.
Besides disabling the enhanced intelligent services, the update also changes the definition, and it no more says it collects call logs and SMS messages.
Here are the details regarding the chain of events that made Realme disable enhanced intelligent services on its smartphones:
A YouTuber named TrakinTech created a video highlighting how the enhanced intelligent services are enabled by default on Realme smartphones, collecting various personal information in an effort to enhance user experience.
A screenshot from the video was shared on Twitter by a user named Rishi Bagree, and it caught the attention of Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
The Union Minister of Electronics and Technology, Government of India, copied the Ministry of Electronics and IT to investigate the matter.
It was later discovered that even Oppo and OnePlus phones had enabled enhanced intelligent services by default.
Realme issued an official statement, saying, "All data processed in this service is encrypted and stored in encrypted hardware within the user's device, strictly in compliance with Android security mechanisms." The statement also clarified that they do not connect any data on SMS, phone calls, schedules, etc., contrary to the current description.
As a result, the company is now pushing a software update on several models to disable the enhanced intelligent services.
