Apple's Stance Against India's Sanchar Saathi App Mandate Raises Privacy Concerns

New Delhi:

Apple is planning to resist compliance with a mandate requiring preinstallation of a government cyber safety app on its smartphones and will communicate its concerns to New Delhi, according to three sources with knowledge of the situation, after the directive raised surveillance concerns.

The Indian government has issued confidential orders to smartphone manufacturers including Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi to preload their devices with an application called Sanchar Saathi (Communication Partner) within a 90-day timeframe. This app is designed to track stolen phones, block them, and prevent misuse.

Government officials also want manufacturers to ensure the app cannot be disabled. For devices already in the supply chain, companies are expected to push the app through software updates, as Reuters first reported on Monday.

India's telecom ministry later confirmed this initiative, describing it as a security measure to combat "serious endangerment" of cyber security. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political opposition and privacy advocates have criticized the move, claiming it represents a government attempt to gain access to India's 730 million smartphones.

According to two industry sources familiar with Apple's position, the company does not intend to comply with the directive and will inform the government that it does not follow such mandates anywhere globally due to privacy and security concerns for its iOS ecosystem. The sources requested anonymity as Apple's strategy remains private.

"Its not only like taking a sledgehammer, this is like a double-barrel gun," stated the first source.

Apple and the telecom ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The app directive comes while Apple is engaged in a legal battle with an Indian regulatory body over the nation's antitrust penalty law. Apple has indicated it could face a potential fine of up to $38 billion in this case.

The second source revealed that Apple does not plan to pursue legal action or make public statements, but will privately inform the government it cannot implement the order due to security vulnerabilities.

Apple "can't do this. Period," the person emphasized.

Other manufacturers including Samsung are currently evaluating the order, according to a fourth industry source familiar with the situation. Samsung has not responded to Reuters inquiries.

Sources indicate the government proceeded with the order without consulting industry stakeholders.

While Apple maintains strict control over its App Store and proprietary iOS software—critical components of its $100-billion-per-year services business—Google's Android is open-source, giving manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi greater flexibility to modify their software.

India's main opposition Congress Party has called for the mandate to be withdrawn. On social platform X, KC Venugopal, a senior Congress leader, stated "Big Brother cannot watch us."

In its press release, the government explained that the app can help address incidents involving duplicated or spoofed IMEI numbers, which enable scams and network misuse.

"India has big second-hand mobile device market," the telecom ministry noted in a Monday evening statement. "Cases have also been observed where stolen or blacklisted devices are being re-sold."