Apple to Resist India’s Order to Preload State Cyber Safety App
Apple has decided not to comply with an Indian government directive requiring smartphone makers to preload a state-owned cyber safety app on all new devices, three sources told Reuters. The company plans to raise privacy and security concerns directly with officials in New Delhi.
India’s Directive Sparks Privacy Backlash
India’s confidential directive, issued to Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and other manufacturers, mandates that all smartphones be preloaded with the government’s Sanchar Saathi app — or “Communication Partner” — within 90 days. The app is designed to track and block stolen phones and prevent their misuse.
Manufacturers have also been asked to ensure that the app cannot be disabled and to push it to existing phones through software updates. India’s telecom ministry confirmed the move, calling it a “cyber security measure” to curb phone theft and fraud.
However, the order has triggered public criticism and political uproar. Opposition lawmakers and privacy advocates argue the app could be used as a surveillance tool to access data from India’s 730 million smartphones. Rahul Gandhi, a senior Congress Party leader, said he would address the issue in Parliament, while Congress general secretary KC Venugopal wrote on X: “Big Brother cannot watch us.”
Apple Cites Global Privacy Standards
According to two industry insiders, Apple will tell the Indian government that such preloading mandates are inconsistent with its global privacy standards. The company’s iOS ecosystem strictly limits pre-installed third-party software, citing data security risks.
“It’s not just taking a sledgehammer — this is like a double-barrel gun,” one source said, describing Apple’s internal view of the directive. The company, however, does not plan to take legal action or make a public statement. Instead, it will privately communicate its position that compliance could expose iPhones to vulnerabilities.
Apple and India’s telecom ministry did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Wider Industry Response and Political Implications
India’s telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia later said the app system was “voluntary and democratic,” stressing that users could delete the app at any time. Yet, he did not clarify whether that assurance contradicted the confidential directive that instructed manufacturers to make the app non-removable.
Other smartphone makers, including Samsung and Xiaomi, are still reviewing the order, according to another industry source. The government reportedly issued the directive without industry consultation.
Apple’s resistance comes as it faces ongoing legal challenges in India, including a case involving a potential $38 billion antitrust fine. The dispute over the Sanchar Saathi app could further strain relations between the tech giant and Indian regulators.
with inputs from Reuters