Apple resists India’s order to preload cyber safety app
- ByStartupStory | December 2, 2025
Apple [finance:Apple Inc.] is resisting a recent directive from the Indian government requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a government-developed cybersecurity app named “Sanchar Saathi” on all new devices sold within the country. The app, mandated by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), is designed to enhance telecom security by enabling users to verify IMEI numbers, report lost or stolen phones, and block fraudulent connections — a move aimed at curbing rising cybercrime and mobile device fraud in India.
Apple has expressed concerns over this mandate, citing user privacy, freedom of choice, and security issues. The company traditionally maintains strict control over what software goes onto its iPhones, ensuring users have full autonomy in managing apps, including the ability to uninstall them. Apple argues that forcing pre-installation of non-Apple apps contradicts its design principles and could set a difficult precedent impacting user trust in the iOS ecosystem.
Other smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi are also impacted by the order but have shown more willingness to comply with government requirements. Apple’s resistance highlights the tension between India’s digital sovereignty goals and the privacy philosophies upheld by major tech firms.
The Indian government expects full compliance within 90 days of the directive, with monitoring and penalties for non-adherence ranging up to ₹15 million. India has emphasized that the app plays a critical role in combating telecom fraud, protecting consumers from phone theft scams, and ensuring national security — goals that officials believe outweigh restrictions on app manageability.
This standoff manifests broader conflicts between national security-driven digital regulations and global tech companies’ policies centered on user privacy and control. How this impasse resolves will influence regulatory norms for smartphone ecosystems in India, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing mobile markets.
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