India will not require smartphone makers to preinstall its state-run ‘cybersecurity’ app

India will not require smartphone makers to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi “security” app. After blowback from Apple, Samsung and opposition leaders, the Modi authorities issued an announcement saying it “has determined to not make the pre-installation necessary for cell producers.” The app continues to be accessible as a voluntary obtain.

India’s Ministry of Communications framed the U-turn because of robust voluntary adoption. The nation mentioned 14 million customers (round 1 % of the nation’s inhabitants) have downloaded the app. “The variety of customers has been rising quickly, and the mandate to put in the app was meant to speed up this course of and make the app accessible to much less conscious residents simply,” the assertion learn.

In an announcement despatched to Engadget, the Digital Frontier Basis (EFF) celebrated India’s reversal. “This was a horrible and harmful thought by the Indian authorities that lasted 24 hours longer than it ever ought to have,” the group wrote. “We thank our colleague organizations in India, resembling SFLC.in and Web Freedom Basis, for promptly opposing it.”

The Indian authorities had beforehand given smartphone makers 90 days to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi app on all new telephones. They had been additionally required to ship it to present gadgets through software program updates. India claims its app exists solely for cybersecurity functions. It contains instruments permitting customers to report and lock misplaced or stolen gadgets.

However privateness advocates warned that it might be used as a authorities backdoor for mass surveillance. In response to the BBC, the app’s privateness coverage permits it to make and handle calls and ship messages. It will probably entry name and message histories, information, pictures and the digicam.

Reuters reports that trade specialists cited Russia as the one identified precedent for such a requirement. In August, Vladimir Putin’s regime ordered the messenger app MAX to be preinstalled on all cell gadgets within the nation. Like with India’s instance, specialists warned that it might be used for surveillance.

On Tuesday, Reuters reported that Apple would not comply with India’s order, citing privateness and safety issues. Samsung reportedly adopted. Opposition leaders within the Indian authorities additionally joined the fray. Senior Congress chief Randeep Singh Surjewala referred to as on the Modi authorities to make clear its authorized authority for “mandating a non-removable app.” Regardless of India’s framing, it appears possible that the 2 corporations’ stances, together with home political stress, performed no small function within the reversal.

Replace, December 3, 2025, 2:50 PM ET: This story has been up to date so as to add an announcement from the EFF.