Apple (AAPL) does not intend to comply with an Indian government order to preload its smartphones with a state-owned cyber safety app and will convey its concerns to the government, Reuters reported, after the move sparked surveillance concerns and a political uproar.
The Indian government has confidentially ordered companies including Apple, Samsung Electronics (OTCPK:SSNLF) and Xiaomi (OTCPK:XIACF) (OTCPK:XIACY) to preload their phones with an app called Sanchar Saathi within 90 days. The app is aimed at tracking stolen phones, block them and prevent them from being misused, the report added.
Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha.
The government also wants smartphone makers to ensure that the app is not disabled, and for devices already in the supply chain, manufacturers should push the app to phones through software updates, the report noted.
India’s telecom ministry confirmed the move later, describing it as a security measure to fight “serious endangerment” of cybersecurity. However, opposition parties and privacy advocates criticized the measure, noting that it is a way for the government to get access to India’s 730 million smartphones.
India’s telecom minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia said the app was a “voluntary and democratic system,” noting that users can choose to activate it and can “easily delete it from their phone at any time,” the report added.
Currently, the app can be deleted by users. Scindia did not comment on or clarify the Nov. 28 confidential order that directed smartphone makers to start preloading it and ensure “its functionalities are not disabled or restricted,” according to the report.
Apple does not intend to comply with the order and will tell the government it does not follow such mandates globally as they raise privacy and security issues for the company’s iOS ecosystem, the report added, citing two of the industry sources who are familiar with Apple’s concerns.
“Its not only like taking a sledgehammer, this is like a double-barrel gun,” said the first person, the report noted.
To tackle growing cybercrime and hacking, India is joining countries worldwide, most recently Russia, to form rules blocking the use of stolen phones for fraud or promoting state-backed government service apps, the report added.
The second person noted that Apple does not intend to go to court or take a public stand, but it will tell the government it cannot follow the order because of security vulnerabilities, the report added.
Other companies, including Samsung, are reviewing the order, said a fourth industry source with knowledge of the matter, the report noted.