CHENNAI: Apple is preparing to challenge the Indian government’s directive requiring all smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi application on devices sold in the country, setting the stage for a significant confrontation between a global tech giant and New Delhi.
The government’s order, issued last week, mandates that handset makers embed the app within 90 days and ensure it is present even on units already in transit or inventory. Authorities describe Sanchar Saathi as a public-interest tool designed to help users verify device credentials, block stolen phones and report telecom fraud.
Apple, however, is resisting the directive on the grounds that it conflicts with its long-standing approach to user privacy, platform integrity and control over pre-installed software, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The company has indicated it will formally register its opposition with Indian officials, arguing that mandatory pre-loading of any government application compromises the uniform security architecture it maintains across global markets. The pushback comes at a politically charged moment, as opposition parties and digital-rights groups voice concern that compulsory installation of a state-run app could chip away at personal privacy and set a precedent for deeper intrusion into user devices.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia attempted to calm the controversy by stressing that users remain free to delete the app.
He framed the directive as a citizen-centric safety measure rather than a surveillance tool.
Yet critics have warned that any mandatory embedding of government applications — even if removable — risks normalising state access to personal devices and eroding digital autonomy. The political backlash has amplified scrutiny around the directive just as the government seeks to expand digital security frameworks nationwide.
The dispute places Apple in an unusually direct conflict with regulators in one of its fastest-growing markets. Industry observers say both sides may seek a compromise, such as offering the app during device setup rather than through forced installation.
For now, the standoff highlights a broader struggle over how far governments can go in enforcing national cybersecurity tools, and how forcefully global technology companies can defend their own ecosystem rules and privacy commitments.