The debate around digital safety, privacy, and state control over smartphones in India has taken a sharp turn after reports emerged that Apple may refuse to follow a new government directive. The directive instructs all smartphone makers to preload a state-run cyber safety app, Sanchar Saathi, on every device sold in the country.
The issue has stirred strong reactions across political, legal, and industry spaces, raising fresh questions about mandatory government apps, privacy rights, and how far companies can be pushed to change their systems to meet state demands. As the world’s largest smartphone market after China, India’s policies often have a wide influence, and the response from Apple signals a rare public boundary being drawn by one of the world’s biggest technology firms.
According to Reuters, the Indian government privately instructed major smartphone companies on November 28 to preload the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices within 90 days. The same instruction asked companies to ensure that users cannot disable the app or restrict its core functions. The app is meant to reduce smartphone-related crime by tracking stolen devices, blocking their use, and preventing misuse involving fake or duplicated IMEI numbers. While this objective has been welcomed by many, the method chosen by the government has come under heavy scrutiny.
At the centre of the storm is Apple’s position. Three industry sources told Reuters that Apple does not plan to follow the order and will present its concerns to New Delhi. Apple has built its global brand around tight control of its ecosystem, strict privacy rules, and a uniform software design that behaves the same way across all countries.
For Apple, preloading a government app that cannot be disabled raises privacy, cybersecurity, and user-control concerns. Two of the sources claimed Apple will inform the government that it does not accept such mandates in any country, and India cannot be an exception. One source described the directive as “not only like taking a sledgehammer, but like a double-barrel gun,” suggesting the company sees it as both intrusive and risky.
The Indian government, however, insists that the aim is to deal with rising cybercrime. In recent years, India has seen a jump in device theft, IMEI fraud, and phone-based scams that rely on stolen handsets. The telecom ministry said the order is intended to help track stolen phones and ensure stolen or blocked devices are not resold in the country’s massive second-hand market. The ministry described the move as a way to counter “serious endangerment” to cyber safety. It issued a statement explaining that IMEI spoofing, fake IMEI numbers, and blacklisted phones returning to circulation have become a growing problem.
The timing of the directive, however, caused an uproar. Soon after the Reuters report, political leaders in the opposition alleged that the app could be used as a tool to watch citizens. Members of Parliament raised the issue on the floor of the House, while senior Congress leader KC Venugopal took to X to state that “Big Brother cannot watch us.” Rahul Gandhi also said he planned to address the matter in Parliament. The backlash paints the instruction as a potential doorway for state surveillance, even though the government maintains that the app is meant only for security and theft prevention.
In response to the outcry, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the app is “voluntary and democratic,” and users can choose to activate it or delete it at any time. At present, the app can indeed be removed by the user. However, his remarks did not address the contents of the confidential directive, which stated clearly that the app must be preloaded and its core functions must not be disabled. This gap between the public stance and the internal directive has complicated the debate further.
Technology companies in India, especially Android-based brands, are watching closely. Samsung, Xiaomi, and others have not publicly stated their position, but Reuters reported that several brands are still reviewing the order. These companies have more flexibility in modifying their devices, since Android is open-sourced and allows manufacturers to add system-level apps or make changes. But even for them, making a government app undeletable raises concerns about user rights and long-term security issues.
Apple, in contrast, maintains tight control over its software, and any system-level change that bypasses the normal app review process is treated as a security risk. Apple’s services business, worth around $100 billion each year, is closely tied to the integrity of its App Store and iOS environment. The company is known for resisting demands that compromise encryption, privacy, or user control. It has previously refused to preload apps in other markets, including China, and its refusal in India appears consistent with its global approach.
The conflict also comes at a sensitive time for Apple in India. The company is already fighting a legal battle with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which has accused Apple of violating antitrust laws through its in-app payment fees. Apple argues that a recent change in the penalty law allows fines based on global turnover rather than Indian revenue, exposing the company to potentially enormous penalties. The CCI has said Apple is trying to stall the proceedings by questioning the law itself. With Apple manufacturing more devices in India and expanding its retail operations, tensions with regulators could affect its long-term plans in the country.
For now, Apple is expected to raise its objections privately rather than taking the issue to court or making a public announcement. According to Reuters, the company believes the directive could introduce security vulnerabilities and undermine the protections built into iOS. Apple has long argued that allowing outside authorities to insert undeletable software weakens the trust users have in the system. If the government insists on the order, it could set up a rare direct confrontation between a global technology company and the Indian state.
