- The decision marks a rare policy reversal for the Modi government.
- Congress, tech companies question legality.
- The Indian government says they are backing down because of the app’s popularity.
India’s government on Wednesday scrapped an order for smartphone makers to preload a state-run cybersecurity app on all new devices following an outcry from politicians, privacy advocates and global technology companies over surveillance fears.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government had privately told companies including Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi on November 28 to preload new phones with an undeletable app called Sanchar Saathi within 90 days. Reuters was the first to report Monday.
“The government has decided not to make pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers,” India’s communications ministry said in a press release on Wednesday.
The move comes after protests from opposition parties over the issue, while newspaper editorials joined privacy advocates in condemning the move.
The government also found itself at odds with phone makers as Apple and Samsung planned to not comply with the directive, sources said.
Just a day earlier, government ministers had defended the plan, saying the app only helps track and block stolen phones and prevents them from being misused.
“The app is secure and solely meant to help citizens from bad actors in the cyber world,” the government said in its statement on Wednesday, saying it backed down because the app was gaining popularity.
Data from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower showed a 13% jump in daily downloads to 78,000 on Monday.
Political protests, privacy concerns
The U-turn will nevertheless come as an embarrassment to Modi’s government and follows a reversal last year on an import licensing policy for laptops after lobbying by US officials who would have required the companies to obtain licenses for shipments.
Earlier on Wednesday, senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, in a message to Parliament, said the government needed to clarify the legal authority for “mandating a non-removable app” and called for a debate on privacy and security risks.
“Also, the grave, serious and real concern is that such a force-installed app may have a backdoor, thereby absolutely compromising the user’s data and privacy,” he added.
Free speech group the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) welcomed Wednesday’s move but said it was awaiting a court order explaining the decision.
Modi’s plan had little precedent, according to industry sources. Russia is possibly the only other known example. Moscow ordered in August that a state-backed messenger application called MAX, a rival to WhatsApp that critics say could be used to track users, be pre-installed on all cellphones and tablets.
Modi has faced criticism in the past over privacy issues. In 2020, his government came under fire for a mandatory Covid-19 contact tracing app for office workers. That measure was later watered down to a request when privacy advocates protested.
