smartphone manufacturers
Apple's Stance Against India's Sanchar Saathi App Mandate Raises Privacy Concerns
Dec 02, 2025 04:49 pm CST
Apple is preparing to challenge the Indian government's mandate requiring smartphone manufacturers to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi cyber safety app, citing privacy and security concerns for its iOS ecosystem. The directive, which affects major brands including Samsung and Xiaomi, has sparked criticism from opposition politicians and privacy advocates who fear increased government surveillance of India's 730 million smartphone users.
Understanding India's Sanchar Saathi: The Mandatory Cybersecurity App for All New Smartphones
Dec 02, 2025 12:52 pm CST
Sanchar Saathi, a comprehensive cybersecurity platform developed by India's Department of Telecommunications, is becoming mandatory on all new smartphones. This government initiative aims to protect over 1.2 billion mobile users from fraud, identity theft, and device theft, while offering features like suspicious activity reporting and IMEI blocking. Despite its security benefits, the mandate has created tension with manufacturers like Apple and raised privacy concerns among advocacy groups.