What to Know

  • Apple has refused India’s order to preload the state-run Sanchar Saathi cyber-safety app on iPhones.
  • The mandate required all smartphone makers to install the app on new devices and push it to existing ones.
  • Apple expressed various concerns, noting it does not pre-install third-party or government apps.
  • This has raised questions regarding the privacy and may be reviewed by the government following public and political pushback.

Apple has refused to comply with the Indian government’s order requiring all smartphone manufacturers to preload the state-run “Sanchar Saathi” cyber safety application on new and existing devices.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued the mandate on November 28, directing smartphone makers to ensure that the Sanchar Saathi app is preinstalled on all new devices sold in India. According to the DoT, the app helps users track lost or stolen phones, check their SIM details, and block devices flagged for fraud. Manufacturers have also been asked to roll out the app to existing users via software updates.

Apple has informed the Indian government that it will not preinstall the Sanchar Saathi app on iPhones. The company cited its policy against adding third-party or government apps by default. The company also expressed concerns over user privacy, device security, and maintaining the integrity of iOS.

However, on December 3, the DoT announced on its official X (formerly Twitter) account that the rule requiring the Sanchar Saathi app to be pre-installed on phones has been dropped. The government noted that the app has already been downloaded by 1.4 crore users, who report around 2,000 fraud cases daily, and that 6 lakh more people downloaded it in a single day, showing strong public trust in the service.

The mandate had sparked debate, with opposition parties and digital-rights groups raising privacy concerns. Officials argued it was meant to protect consumers, but with the government now withdrawing the requirement, the debate has finally come to an end.