On December 3 local time, India’s Ministry of Communications announced the revocation of a controversial directive that would no longer require smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the official cybersecurity app Sanchar Saathi, a directive that had sparked privacy controversies and industry backlash.
It has been reported that on November 28th, the Indian Ministry of Telecommunications privately notified manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, requiring them to pre-install the application on new phones within 90 days, and that users must not disable it. Devices already in the supply chain must receive a software update. Officials stated that this move aims to combat mobile phone theft and online fraud through IMEI code management. Since its launch in January of this year, the application has helped recover 700,000 phones and blocked over 3.7 million stolen devices.
The directive sparked strong opposition, with India’s largest opposition party, the Congress Party, accusing it of “invading privacy,” digital rights organizations issuing public protests, and Apple refusing to comply, citing threats to the security of its iOS ecosystem. Ultimately, the Indian Ministry of Communications withdrew the order, citing “increased user acceptance and a surge in downloads,” and the app will now be subject to a voluntary download model. This marks the second time this year that India has adjusted its electronics-related policies due to external pressure, triggering discussions about the stability of its technology governance decisions.
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