Apple to Resist India's Order to Preload Government App on iPhones

[Unregistered 4U]

What did China request?

For one, China required all 5G phone makers to support RCS. No made up “gatekeeper”, no convoluted poorly written legislation, just a simple, “Do this or you can’t sell phones in this region”. And, Chinese companies can’t avoid the requirement, they ALL across the board, support RCS on their 5G capable phones. Because China doesn’t NEED to have the iPhone in the region in order to have a tech future.

The EU does.

 

[ForkHandles]

Donald Trump will just wield trade policies to put India in its place just like he did with Europe because of their constant pursuit of American tech companies.

(not stating this to support or be against anything here but stating the fact that Apple is an American company and is in Trumps good books due to Tim Cook's pleasing skills)

That’s quite funny.

I think you completely misunderstand the autonomy of other countries and the way in which TACO is perceived. Spoiler, not well.

From what I’ve learned from being in India, they’re not remotely interested in playing the short game. Especially when the rules change every two days.

 

[Miat]

Think you touches on something important here. There are new players in the world that are large enough to live without the "west". These economic regiions are large enough to go its own way. It seems that Apple (and others) has missed the boat completely how to navigate is this new reality.

I think it is less lack of awareness, and more that there is not a lot they can do about it.

The distribution of power and wealth ebbs and flows. Always has, always will. No nation or culture can stay on top forever. A cast iron rule of history, if there ever was one, is that all empires fall.

We are in a world of flux right now, and those transitions are never easy or comfortable. The details of how it plays out, and what the next era looks like, for better or worse, remain to be seen.

Though it is a safe bet that the USA, and the broader Anglo-sphere, will never be so dominant again.

 

[Abazigal]

Looks like said legislation may be dead in the water.

India revokes state-run security app order for smartphones after outcry

NEW DELHI: India revoked its order to smartphone makers on Wednesday (Dec 3) to preload a state-run cybersecurity app days after the plan triggered a major backlash from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's opponents and privacy activists over surveillance f

www.channelnewsasia.com

 

[chmania]

Looks like said legislation may be dead in the water.

India revokes state-run security app order for smartphones after outcry

NEW DELHI: India revoked its order to smartphone makers on Wednesday (Dec 3) to preload a state-run cybersecurity app days after the plan triggered a major backlash from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's opponents and privacy activists over surveillance f

www.channelnewsasia.com

Source: Reuters/fh, well? The rumour mill?

 

[Abazigal]

Source: Reuters/fh, well? The rumour mill?

Feels legit, and I felt like the ruling was never going to get much traction in the first place.

 

[surferfb]

Imagine that! Good news.

 

[whatnot]

Source: Reuters/fh, well? The rumour mill?

so the Ministry of Communications is now a leftist roumour mill? all your trolling here for nothing? oh dear.

 

[chmania]

so the Ministry of Communications is now a leftist roumour mill?

Apple will resist a new Indian government directive that would require all iPhones sold in the country to ship with a preinstalled state-run security app, reports Reuters. - OP

Reuters, not the Indian Government Ministries...

iphone market share in India is just about 9%, so you can imagine the clout it has in India.

 

[whatnot]

Apple will resist a new Indian government directive that would require all iPhones sold in the country to ship with a preinstalled state-run security app, reports Reuters. - OP

Reuters, not the Indian Government Ministries...

news agency reports government decision shock!

so if not the 'clout', what was it that made your dear leader change heart? spare me the details.

 

[surferfb]

Looks like said legislation may be dead in the water.

India revokes state-run security app order for smartphones after outcry

NEW DELHI: India revoked its order to smartphone makers on Wednesday (Dec 3) to preload a state-run cybersecurity app days after the plan triggered a major backlash from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's opponents and privacy activists over surveillance f

www.channelnewsasia.com

Interesting note here, emphasis mine.

The move comes after days of protests from opposition parties over the issue, while newspaper editorials joined privacy advocates in denouncing the move. The government also found itself at odds with phone manufacturers, as Apple and Samsung had plans not to comply with the directive, sources said.

Good for Samsung!

 

[chmania]

news agency reports government decision shock!

These days news "agencies" create news, not exactly reports them.

so if not the 'clout', what was it that made your dear leader change heart? spare me the details.

I am not an Indian. But, I "heard" that about 35-40% of the Apple employees are of Indian origin. Well, you know, a rumour...

 

[chmania]

The move comes after days of protests from opposition parties over the issue, while newspaper editorials joined privacy advocates in denouncing the move. The government also found itself at odds with phone manufacturers, as Apple and Samsung had plans not to comply with the directive, sources said.

Good for Samsung!

Samsung has about 14% of the phone market in India, so together with Apple (9%), they hold 23%, which is still less than a quarter. In any case, Apple and Samsung are competitors; only Apple is a consumer of Samsung products, not the other way around.

 

[whatnot]

These days news "agencies" create news, not exactly reports them.

do you get your news from some guy on a horse, or simply a Modi fanclub newsletter?

I am not an Indian. But, I "heard" that about 35-40% of the Apple employees are of Indian origin. Well, you know, a rumour...

and I'm supposed to care why? you're like one of them Putin/Modi/Maga bots that flood replies on twitter, twisting and turning for nothing, stupid smirk optional.

 

[surferfb]

Samsung has about 14% of the phone market in India, so together with Apple (9%), they hold 23%, which is still less than a quarter. In any case, Apple and Samsung are competitors; only Apple is a consumer of Samsung products, not the other way around.

Yes, but I suspect that quarter contains a very large portion of upper and upper-middle class Indian consumers who are more likely to be politically active and care about things like privacy and government surveillance.

I am not sure what your last comment has to do with anything we’re talking about here. My point was highlighting that Samsung also said it wasn’t going to comply, so it wasn’t just Apple.

 

[chmania]

Yes, but I suspect that quarter contains a very large portion of upper and upper-middle class Indian consumers who are more likely to be politically active and care about things like privacy and government surveillance.

Well, have a look at the Indian political scene, and then you'll understand. For the normal functioning of the country, the NDA/BJP doesn't have to "listen" to the opposition; they can pass any bill.

My point was highlighting that Samsung also said it wasn’t going to comply, so it wasn’t just Apple.

Well, all other phone makers would complain too, and they have the upper hand over Apple in India. Vivo is the largest smartphone seller in India, but we haven't heard it making much noise, have we?

 

[chmania]

-- Times of India --
Dec 03, 2025, 16:54 IST (few hours old news)

People are downloading it voluntarily and registering themselves. 1.4 crore means 14 million.

 

[whatnot]

Well, have a look at the Indian political scene, and then you'll understand. For the normal functioning of the country, the NDA/BJP doesn't have to "listen" to the opposition; they can pass any bill.

so 'normal functioning' is ruling by diktat, do you even read your own gibberish before posting?

 

[surferfb]

Well, have a look at the Indian political scene, and then you'll understand. For the normal functioning of the country, the NDA/BJP doesn't have to "listen" to the opposition; they can pass any bill.

Yes, that's generally how parliamentary systems work. But angering a large, politically active block of voters leads to issues at the next election, and while Modi is certainly trying to ensure elections aren't free and fair, he hasn't gotten there yet.

Which is why large corporations and the opposition speaking up to raise awareness and push back on bad laws like this one is a good thing. (Which also helps explain why Apple doesn't push back on China publicly - there's literally nothing that can be done by doing so outside of angering the government).

Well, all other phone makers would complain too, and they have the upper hand over Apple in India. Vivo is the largest smartphone seller in India, but we haven't heard it making much noise, have we?

Not that we know of, but this is literally the first I'm hearing that Samsung was pushing back, so for all I know Vivo did too.

The important thing is the government caved (and very quickly at that). Which is all that matters. I'm fine with the government offering this app on the App Store, and if tens of millions of Indian citizens want to use it, more power to them. But the government shouldn't force it on everyone.

 

[chmania]

Yes, that's generally how parliamentary systems work. But angering a large, politically active block of voters leads to issues at the next election, ...

Well, that might happen in your country, given the way things are going.

Which is why large corporations and the opposition speaking up to raise awareness and push back on bad laws like this one is a good thing.

In India, Apple India is a little fish compared to the Indian mega corporations and doesn’t wield much political clout, if any at all.

The important thing is the government caved (and very quickly at that). Which is all that matters.

Well, the government didn't cave in; it's just politics. The ordinary person would download the app anyway. It's always better to be safe, especially from foreign companies.

 

[macbookj0e]

Looks like an Indian reversal after 48 hours… they’ve held them off for now at least!

After Apple refusal, India makes U-turn on mandatory iPhone app

The saga of a mandatory government security app which Apple and Google had to preinstall on their phones didn’t last...

9to5mac.com

Edit: see this was already posted lol

 

[wyrdness]

@wyrdness , @VulchR ,you two clicked "disagree" on my comment, are you suggesting Tim should ask trump to go to war with India to get their/apple's way?

Since you're asking, I gave a thumbs down to you saying "no one is forcing apple to sell in India". Nothing to do with Tim or Trump. It's not as if Apple is going to pull out of India, now is it?

 

[macfacts]

What did China request?

remove vpn apps from the app store. and iCloud servers being run by government approved companies.

 

[Abazigal]

Since you're asking, I gave a thumbs down to you saying "no one is forcing apple to sell in India". Nothing to do with Tim or Trump. It's not as if Apple is going to pull out of India, now is it?

Well, given their smaller market share, I guess Apple would have less to lose from pulling out of India compared to say, the EU?

 

[chmania]

"There has been very good response to the Sanchar Saathi App from the public suddenly. The download on a single day jumped 10 times to around 6 lakh from an average of 60,000 a day,"

Dec 03, 2025, 10:57:49 AM IST

The interest demonstrates how concerned Indian citizens are about security and indicates a high level of trust in their government. This is, mind you, an undeletable app.