In a rare and significant shift, the Indian government has indicated it is ready to reconsider an order that would require smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a state-run cybersecurity application on all new devices. The move comes after a wave of public criticism, political pressure, and rising concerns over surveillance and privacy.
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia told parliament on Wednesday that the government is open to modifying the order, stating that they are “ready to make changes to the order based on the feedback we receive.” His comments appear to be the first sign of softening from the administration following intense backlash from civil society, tech experts, opposition leaders, and global smartphone manufacturers.
The original directive, issued confidentially to companies including Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, required the preloading of an app called Sanchar Saathi within 90 days. Marketed as a tool to help track stolen phones and prevent misuse, the app has instead sparked fears of expanded governmental access to user data.
Earlier in the day, the opposition Congress Party sharply criticized the government over the lack of legal clarity behind a “non-removable” app mandate. Senior leader Randeep Singh Surjewala raised alarms about potential backdoors that could compromise user privacy at scale. He urged the government to disclose audit reports, compliance safeguards, and misuse-prevention protocols.
The directive also instructed smartphone manufacturers to push the app to already-sold devices through software updates and ensure users cannot disable it—a requirement that further heightened public concern.
Industry analysts note that such a mandate is unprecedented globally, with Russia being the only known comparable example. Moscow recently ordered the installation of a state-backed messaging app, MAX, on all devices, a move widely criticized for enabling potential state surveillance.
Sources indicate that Apple, which positions itself as a champion of user privacy, has no intention of complying with the order and plans to raise its objections formally with New Delhi. The company has stated that mandatory government apps violate core principles of its iOS ecosystem.
The controversy has dominated national headlines, prime-time debates, and editorial pages. The Indian Express called the directive a dangerous precedent for state intrusion, while The Times of India urged the government to withdraw the order entirely, emphasizing that mobile phones remain deeply personal spaces.
This is not the first time the Modi administration has faced pushback on privacy concerns. In 2020, its compulsory COVID-19 contact-tracing app stirred similar criticism before the mandate was eventually softened.
Despite the backlash, downloads of Sanchar Saathi surged 13 percent on Monday as the debate intensified nationwide.
