Last Updated:
The proposals form part of PM Modi’s efforts to strengthen user data security amid rising cases of online fraud and data breaches in India.
Smartphone Prices To Rise
The Indian government has proposed new smartphone security rules that would require makers to share source code with authorities and make several software changes, prompting pushback from global tech giants including Apple and Samsung.
The proposals form part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to strengthen user data security amid rising cases of online fraud and data breaches in India, the world’s second-largest smartphone market, with nearly 750 million devices.
Companies would also need to alert the government before major software updates and allow pre-installed apps to be uninstalled, while blocking apps from using cameras or microphones in the background, Reuters reported.
Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi and Google have expressed concerns over the 83 proposed security standards, arguing that many have no global precedent and could expose sensitive proprietary information, the publication reported.
Industry representatives also warned that requirements such as source code review and year-long storage of system logs would be impractical and could affect phone performance, battery life, and user privacy.
Access to source code—the underlying programming that makes phones operate—would allow testing in designated Indian labs to verify security claims. Smartphone makers, however, closely guard their source code. Apple, for example, has previously rejected similar requests from China, while US authorities have also failed to obtain it.
“Industry raised concerns that globally security requirement have not been mandated by any country,” a December document from India’s IT ministry said, summarising meetings with the companies.
A source familiar with the discussions said the Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT) has formally asked the government to drop the proposal, calling mandatory reviews “not possible due to secrecy and privacy.”
The rules would also require automatic malware scanning and government approval for software updates. IT Secretary S. Krishnan said “any legitimate concerns of the industry will be addressed with an open mind,” while a ministry spokesperson declined further comment, citing ongoing consultations.
(With inputs from Reuters)
January 11, 2026, 19:24 IST
Read More
