Political Backlash Erupts Over India’s Mandate to Preload State-Owned Apps on Smartphones

Protests have ignited across India as the government has mandated major tech firms to install state-operated applications on smartphones, prompting concerns over potential surveillance among opposition leaders and activists.

Companies such as Apple, Samsung, and Xiomi are required to comply within 90 days by preloading Sanchar Saathi (Telecom Partner) on all mobile devices sold in India.

New devices must have the app pre-installed, while those already on the market will need a software update to include it. The Indian government has downplayed privacy concerns, stating that Sanchar Saathi “will not automatically collect certain personal information from you without your consent within the application.”

Apple is reportedly one of the primary tech companies resisting this order, while other major players have not yet publicly addressed the issue, as reported by Reuters.

Marketed as a tool for citizen safety, the app enables users to block and locate lost or stolen phones, check the number of mobile connections linked to their identity, and helps identify and disconnect fraudulent numbers associated with scams.

Additionally, it allows users to report suspected fraudulent calls, verify the legitimacy of used devices, and ensure they haven’t been stolen prior to purchase.

The directive was covertly issued to mobile manufacturers by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration last week.

Once this information became public, the Ministry of Telecommunications confirmed it as a security step to address the “serious risks” of cybersecurity and fraud in India, while also regulating the country’s second-hand mobile market.

This has sparked backlash from opposition parties and digital rights advocates, who argue that it provides the government unrestricted access to the nation’s 730 million smartphones, enabling tracking of citizens through their devices.

KC Venugopal, a leader from the opposition National Congress Party, stated that his party would protest against the “dystopian” decision, asserting: “Big Brother cannot keep tabs on us.”

The Internet Freedom Foundation expressed its determination to “strive until this directive is annulled.”

Priyanka Gandhi, fellow Congress party leader, criticized the initiative as a “spy app” that undermines the fundamental right to privacy of citizens.

Sources indicate that Apple intends to resist the mandate, citing significant safety concerns. Company officials, who wished to remain anonymous, highlighted that internal policies prevent Apple from complying with such directives globally due to potential security and privacy risks to its iOS system. Apple did not provide a formal comment.

According to the app’s privacy policy, iPhone users will be prompted to allow access to their camera, photos, and files. Android users, who represent 95% of India’s smartphone users, will need to share call logs, allow registration messages, manage calls “to identify mobile numbers in their phones,” and grant access to their cameras and photos.

It was initially reported that the government had instructed tech companies not to disable the app. However, in a speech on Tuesday, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia refuted this. “It’s your choice to keep it on your device,” he stated. “You can uninstall it just like any other app.”