India rolls back order to preinstall cybersecurity app on smartphones

4 days ago 49

India’s telecoms ministry has rolled backmost its bid for smartphone manufacturers to preinstall a government-run cybersecurity app connected caller devices

ByThe Associated Press

December 3, 2025, 5:29 AM

NEW DELHI -- India’s telecoms ministry connected Wednesday rolled backmost its bid for smartphone manufacturers to preinstall a government-run cybersecurity app connected caller devices.

The Ministry of Communications connected Monday asked smartphone makers to instal the government’s “Sanchar Saathi” app wrong 90 days and to forestall users from disabling it. It besides required manufacturers to propulsion the app onto older models done a bundle update.

Monday’s directive led to wide disapproval and concerns of usurpation of information privateness and idiosyncratic consent successful 1 of the largest handset markets successful the world. That bid besides clashed with policies of companies similar U.S.-based Apple, which prohibits preinstalling third-party apps connected its devices, including those developed by governments.

The ministry said successful a connection Wednesday that 600,000 caller users had registered to download the app successful the past day. While noting its accrued acceptance, it said the authorities “has decided not to marque the preinstallation mandatory for mobile manufacturers.”

“The app is unafraid and purely meant to assistance citizens from atrocious actors successful the cyberworld. There is nary different relation different than protecting the users successful the app and they tin region the app whenever they want,” the connection said.

On Tuesday, India’s telecom minister, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, had called the app voluntary aft privateness advocates said it could erode idiosyncratic privateness and consent.

The “Sanchar Saathi” app, which was released successful January, was designed to fto users artifact and way mislaid oregon stolen phones and to place and unopen down fraudulent mobile connections. Since its launch, it has drawn astatine slightest 14 cardinal downloads, according to authorities data.