India Forces Tech Giants to Install State Surveillance App on All Smartphones
In a move that highlights the growing tension between state security and digital privacy rights, India's telecommunications ministry has quietly ordered major smartphone manufacturers to preload all new devices with a government-owned cybersecurity application that users cannot delete.
The November 28 directive, obtained by Reuters, gives companies including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi just 90 days to ensure the Sanchar Saathi app comes pre-installed on new mobile phones, with users unable to disable the software.
Corporate Resistance Expected
Apple, which has previously clashed with Indian telecoms regulators over government app requirements, faces a particular challenge. The tech giant's internal policies explicitly prohibit the installation of any government or third-party applications before smartphone sales.
"Apple has historically refused such requests from governments," explained Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research. "It's likely to seek a middle ground: instead of a mandatory pre-install, they might negotiate and ask for an option to nudge users towards installing the app."
The order extends beyond new devices, requiring manufacturers to push the app to existing phones through software updates, effectively reaching India's massive smartphone market of over 735 million devices.
Privacy Concerns Mount
Technology law expert Mishi Choudhary raised serious concerns about the implications for user autonomy. "The government effectively removes user consent as a meaningful choice," she warned, echoing criticisms faced by Russia when it implemented similar requirements for a state-backed messenger app in August.
The mandatory installation represents a significant expansion of state digital oversight in one of the world's largest telecommunications markets, where over 1.2 billion subscribers could be affected by the policy.
Government Justification
Indian authorities defend the measure as essential to combat what they describe as "serious endangerment" of telecom cybersecurity from duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which enable scams and network misuse.
Since its January launch, the Sanchar Saathi app has demonstrated significant impact, helping recover more than 700,000 lost phones, including 50,000 in October alone. The platform has also facilitated the blocking of over 3.7 million stolen devices and terminated more than 30 million fraudulent connections.
The app primarily functions as a central registry system, allowing users to block and track lost or stolen smartphones across all telecom networks while identifying and disconnecting fraudulent mobile connections.
Global Trend Toward Digital Control
India's directive reflects a broader international trend of governments asserting greater control over digital infrastructure and mobile devices. From Russia's messenger app requirements to various nations' cybersecurity mandates, authorities worldwide are increasingly prioritizing state oversight over individual privacy preferences.
The policy particularly impacts Apple's iOS ecosystem, which powers an estimated 4.5% of India's smartphone market, with Android dominating the remainder. While Apple routinely pre-installs its own proprietary applications, the company maintains strict policies against third-party government software requirements.
As the 90-day deadline approaches, the technology industry watches closely to see whether corporate resistance can modify or delay implementation of India's unprecedented digital surveillance expansion.