Apple plans to defy an Indian government mandate requiring the pre-installation of the state-run Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones sold in the country, citing privacy and security concerns. The app, designed to track lost or stolen devices and combat fraud, has drawn criticism from privacy advocates who fear it enables surveillance. Telecom authorities insist the tool is voluntary and user-friendly.
On December 2, 2025, Reuters reported that Apple does not intend to comply with India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) order to preload its iPhones with the Sanchar Saathi app. The mandate, issued recently, requires device makers including Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi to install the app on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India. Compliance must occur within 90 days, with a report due in 120 days.
The Sanchar Saathi app, described by the government as a 'Communication Partner,' allows users to report suspected fraud communications, verify phone authenticity via IMEI codes, and block lost or stolen devices across telecom networks. It is already available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play, but the DoT demands pre-installation to ensure it is 'readily visible and accessible' during device setup, with functionalities that 'are not disabled or restricted.' For existing devices, manufacturers must push the app via software updates.
Apple's stance stems from concerns over privacy and security risks to its iOS ecosystem, according to three anonymous sources cited by Reuters. The company plans to convey these issues to New Delhi without pursuing litigation or public opposition. Analyst Tarun Pathak noted that Apple has historically rejected similar government requests and may negotiate for user nudges instead of mandatory pre-installs.
Critics, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political opponents and the Internet Freedom Foundation, label the app a 'snooping' tool. Congress Party MP Priyanka Gandhi stated, 'Sanchar Saathi is a snooping app… It’s a very fine line between ‘fraud is easy to report’ and ‘we can see everything that every citizen of India is doing on their phone.'' Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia countered that it is 'voluntary and democratic,' and users can delete it easily.
The advocacy group warned that the pre-installed version likely requires root-level access, eroding app isolation and enabling potential repurposing for scanning banned apps, flagging VPNs, or accessing SMS logs. With 730 million smartphones in India, the directive has sparked a political uproar over surveillance risks.