India’s tech sector is buzzing after Apple revealed it will not comply with the government’s new directive to preload smartphones with the state-developed Sanchar Saathi app. With a 90-day deadline set last week for all manufacturers to comply—including industry heavyweights Samsung and Xiaomi—the move has triggered a political firestorm, strong criticism from privacy advocates, and a public outcry in the world’s most populous country.
The Sanchar Saathi app, launched in January and currently available on the Apple App Store and Android’s Play Store, is marketed as a “citizen-centric safety tool.” Its functions let users check a device’s IMEI number, report lost or stolen phones, and flag suspected fraud communications. But this latest order goes a step further: All new smartphones sold in India, a market of more than 1.2 billion mobile users, must come with the app pre-installed and its features cannot be disabled or restricted.
Privacy and Surveillance Fears
Privacy experts say the government’s requirements violate user rights. According to the app’s own privacy policy, Sanchar Saathi would have the ability to make and manage calls, access messages, logs, photos, files, and even use the phone’s camera—raising concerns about potential state surveillance. “In plain terms, this converts every smartphone sold in India into a vessel for state-mandated software that the user cannot meaningfully refuse, control, or remove,” said advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation in a statement.
Apple has reportedly told Indian authorities it does not implement such mandates anywhere in the world, citing risks to user privacy and the security of its iOS ecosystem. Sources confirmed the company will formally relay its objections to New Delhi, refusing to align with an order it says threatens its core security principles. Meanwhile, India’s Department of Telecommunications argues the mandate is an essential step to combat the “serious endangerment” posed by IMEI tampering, fraud, and the country’s thriving black market for second-hand phones.
Political Storm and Public Reaction
The pushback is not confined to tech firms. The policy has become front-page news and a major talking point on Indian prime-time television, with the opposition Congress Party publicly calling for the mandate to be rolled back. Social media channels are awash with complaints and heated debate about government snooping.
According to the directive, manufacturers must even attempt to add Sanchar Saathi to unsold devices already out of factories, expanding the reach and controversy of the requirement. With the deadline now ticking down, what happens next will likely shape the landscape of privacy rights and tech regulation in one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone markets.
