Apple does not plan to comply with the Indian government’s demand to mandatorily install a state-backed cybersecurity app on smartphones. Three sources familiar with the matter said the company will communicate its decision to New Delhi, stating that such a requirement contradicts its global practices.
The Indian government has ordered manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app, developed to track and block stolen phones, on all devices within 90 days. It also requires that the app cannot be disabled by users and must be sent to existing devices in the supply chain via software updates.
The telecommunications ministry described this step as “protection against serious threats to cybersecurity.” However, opposition parties and privacy advocates reacted strongly to the decision, arguing that the government was trying to gain surveillance authority over 730 million smartphones. Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi announced he would take the matter to parliament; party officials demanded the decision be withdrawn, saying, “Big Brother cannot watch us.” Following the reactions, Telecommunications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia stated that the application was a “voluntary system” and users could delete it at any time. However, the minister did not explain why the confidential directive dated November 28 mandated pre-installation. Apple opposes on security and privacy grounds Two sources close to Apple stated that the company does not allow pre-installed government apps in its iOS ecosystem and will convey that such requests pose serious risks to security and privacy. One of the sources described the process as “a serious intervention that creates double risk.” Apple and the telecommunications ministry did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. India has joined other countries seeking to curb the misuse of stolen devices due to rising cybercrime and fraud cases. However, industry representatives say the government made this decision without consulting companies. Android’s open-source nature allows brands like Samsung and Xiaomi more flexibility in system settings, while Apple’s tightly controlled iOS ecosystem is closed to such interventions. Samsung is reportedly also considering the decision, but has not yet made an official statement. This process coincides with Apple’s legal battle against potential multi-billion dollar fines from the Indian competition authority. The government’s mandatory implementation demand has reignited debates about technology, politics, and privacy in India. This coincides with Apple’s legal battle against potential multi-billion dollar fines from the Indian competition authority. The government’s mandatory implementation demand has reignited debates about technology, politics, and privacy in India. This coincides with Apple’s legal battle against potential multi-billion dollar fines from the Indian competition authority. This coincides with Apple’s legal battle against potential multi-billion dollar fines from the Indian competition authority. This government demand has reignited debates about technology, politics, and privacy in India. This … coincides with Apple’s legal battle against potential multi-billion dollar fines from the Indian competition authority. This government demand has reignited debates about technology, politics, and privacy in India. This coincides with Apple’s legal battle against potential multi-billion dollar fines from the Indian competition authority. This coincides with Apple’s legal battle against potential multi-billion dollar fines from the Indian competition authority. This coincides with Apple’s legal battle against potential multi-billion
