India Pulls Its Preinstalled iPhone App Demand
(Wednesday December 03, 2025 @05:22PM (BeauHD)
from the until-next-time dept.)
- Reference: 0180275649
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/12/03/1712242/india-pulls-its-preinstalled-iphone-app-demand
- Source link:
India has [1]withdrawn its order requiring Apple and other smartphone makers to preinstall the government's Sanchar Saathi app after [2]public backlash and privacy concerns. AppleInsider reports:
> On November 28, the India Ministry of Communication issued [3]a secret directive to Apple and other smartphone manufacturers, requiring the preinstallation of a government-backed app. Less than a week later, the order has been rescinded. The withdrawal on Wednesday means Apple doesn't have to preload the Sanchar Saathi app onto iPhones sold in the country, in a way that couldn't be "disabled or restricted." [...]
>
> In pulling back from the demand, the government insisted that the app had an "increasing acceptance" among citizens. There was a tenfold spike of new user registrations on Tuesday alone, with over 600,000 new users made aware of the app from the public debacle. India Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia took a moment to insist that concerns the app could be used for increased surveillance were unfounded. "Snooping is neither possible nor will it happen" with the app, Scindia claimed.
>
> "This is a welcome development, but we are still awaiting the full text of the legal order that should accompany this announcement, including any revised directions under the Cyber Security Rules, 2024," said the Internet Freedom Foundation. It is treating the news with "cautious optimism, not closure," until formalities conclude. However, while promising, the backdown doesn't stop India from retrying something similar or another tactic in the future.
[1] https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/12/03/india-blinks-wont-require-apple-to-preinstall-a-state-app-on-iphone
[2] https://apple.slashdot.org/story/25/12/02/2214241/apple-to-resist-india-order-to-preload-state-run-app-as-political-outcry-builds
[3] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/12/01/0633231/india-orders-mobile-phones-preloaded-with-government-app-to-ensure-cyber-safety
> On November 28, the India Ministry of Communication issued [3]a secret directive to Apple and other smartphone manufacturers, requiring the preinstallation of a government-backed app. Less than a week later, the order has been rescinded. The withdrawal on Wednesday means Apple doesn't have to preload the Sanchar Saathi app onto iPhones sold in the country, in a way that couldn't be "disabled or restricted." [...]
>
> In pulling back from the demand, the government insisted that the app had an "increasing acceptance" among citizens. There was a tenfold spike of new user registrations on Tuesday alone, with over 600,000 new users made aware of the app from the public debacle. India Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia took a moment to insist that concerns the app could be used for increased surveillance were unfounded. "Snooping is neither possible nor will it happen" with the app, Scindia claimed.
>
> "This is a welcome development, but we are still awaiting the full text of the legal order that should accompany this announcement, including any revised directions under the Cyber Security Rules, 2024," said the Internet Freedom Foundation. It is treating the news with "cautious optimism, not closure," until formalities conclude. However, while promising, the backdown doesn't stop India from retrying something similar or another tactic in the future.
[1] https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/12/03/india-blinks-wont-require-apple-to-preinstall-a-state-app-on-iphone
[2] https://apple.slashdot.org/story/25/12/02/2214241/apple-to-resist-india-order-to-preload-state-run-app-as-political-outcry-builds
[3] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/12/01/0633231/india-orders-mobile-phones-preloaded-with-government-app-to-ensure-cyber-safety
This should hit hard to all the idiots (Score:2)
by thegarbz ( 1787294 )
who proposed Apple simply pull out of India, or criticised Apple for not following "local laws". Everyone seems to jump to some extreme end-point in every debate, completely forgetting that most such issues are sorted out one way or the other along the way.
Yes laws need to be obeyed, that doesn't mean you can't fight against them in the process, especially if you have the money to weather fines and start a legal battle in the process.
Attempted totalitarian idiocy (Score:5, Interesting)
Modi, the wannabe dictator, thinks he can get away with the stupidest shit. The Indian people do let him get away with a hell of a lot, but not this. He'll probably recast it as something anti-Islam and get it accepted in one form or another.
Re:Attempted totalitarian idiocy (Score:4, Interesting)
Don't kid yourself. This backtracking has very little to do with the Indian people and a lot more to do with the fact that Apple publicly refused to pre-install this app.
Apple wants to build more factories in India and other idealy "democratic" countries in the future to lessen its dependance on China. In other words: India needs jobs, and Apple offers jobs. The Indian governement has no interest in antagonising Apple.
The fact that mega-corporations have effectively more power than governements is not a new thing, and is not limited to the western world.
Re: (Score:2)
IOS market share in India is measly 4-6%, i doubt this had anything to do with apple's position. This is just coming from worldview idolizing western companies.
Re: (Score:2)
It's not about IOS' market share as such. But if I as an Android user have the government surveillance app, but my somewhat richer neighbor with his iPhone does not, that begins to look very much like a wealth privilege. And in a country with many poor people, this does not bode well for the government.