India’s telecom ministry has officially requested smartphone manufacturers to pre-install state-owned cybersecurity applications on all new devices, which cannot be removed. This directive is likely to generate criticism from Apple and privacy advocates, according to a government order.
In light of the rising incidents of cybercrime and hacking, India is collaborating with international authorities, including those in Russia, to enforce new regulations that aim to prevent the misuse of stolen mobile phones for fraudulent activities or the promotion of government service applications.
Apple has historically been at odds with telecom regulators regarding the development of government anti-spam mobile applications; however, manufacturers such as Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi are obliged to comply with the recent mandate.
According to the order issued on November 28, established smartphone brands have 90 days to ensure that the government’s Sanchar Saathi application is pre-installed on new devices, with users unable to disable the app.
For phones already present in the supply chain, manufacturers are required to roll out app updates to the devices, as stated in an unpublished order sent privately to certain companies.
However, a technology law expert expressed concerns regarding this development.
“The government has effectively stripped user consent of its significance,” stated Mishi Chaudhary, an advocate for internet rights.
Privacy advocates have criticized a similar request made by Russia in August, which mandates the pre-installation of the state-backed Max messaging app on mobile devices.
With over 1.2 billion subscribers, India stands as one of the largest smartphone markets. Since its launch in January, the app has reportedly helped recover more than 700,000 lost phones, including 50,000 in October alone, according to government data.
The government asserts that the app is vital in addressing “serious risks” to communication cybersecurity posed by duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which facilitate fraud and network exploitation.
Counterpoint Research anticipates that by mid-2025, 4.5% of the expected 735 million smartphones in India will operate on Apple’s iOS, while the remaining devices will run Android.
Although Apple preinstalls its own applications, its internal policies bar the installation of government or third-party applications prior to sale, according to a source familiar with the situation.
“Apple has a history of denying such governmental requests,” remarked Tarun Pathak, a research director at Counterpoint.
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“It’s probable that we will pursue a compromise. Instead of mandating pre-installation, we may opt to negotiate and encourage users to install the application voluntarily.”
Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi did not respond to inquiries for comment. Likewise, India’s Ministry of Telecommunications has not issued a response.
The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a unique identifier consisting of 14 to 17 digits for each mobile device, is predominantly used to revoke network access for phones reported as stolen.
The Sanchar Saathi application is principally developed to assist users in blocking and tracking lost or stolen smartphones across various networks via a centralized registry. It also aids in identifying and disconnecting unauthorized mobile connections.
Since its launch, the app has achieved over 5 million downloads, successfully blocked more than 3.7 million stolen or lost phones, and prevented over 30 million unauthorized connections.
The government claims that the software will contribute to mitigating cyber threats, facilitate the tracking and blocking of lost or stolen mobile phones, assist law enforcement in device tracking, and help curtail the entry of counterfeit products into illicit markets.
