India, Nov. 17 -- Samsung is facing growing scrutiny over a preloaded app on its budget and mid-range Galaxy phones, after new findings raised concerns about transparency, privacy, and regional sensitivities. The app in question, AppCloud, has long appeared on Galaxy M, F, and A-series smartphones in India, but recent reports suggest its reach has expanded into West Asian and North African markets, triggering a fresh wave of criticism.

Despite its name, AppCloud is not a cloud service. It is a third-party app-installer that recommends applications during the initial setup of a new Galaxy phone. Users can delay interacting with it, but the app continues to push notifications until the installation choices are completed or the service is m...