New Delhi, Dec 2: Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday sought to calm criticism over the government’s order requiring smartphone makers to preload the Sanchar Saathi fraud-reporting app, saying users will be allowed to remove it from their devices. The DoT’s directive, issued on November 28, mandates installation on all new phones within 90 days and through updates on existing handsets. Companies must submit compliance reports within 120 days.
“If you want to delete it, then delete it,” Scindia told reporters, stressing that the app is intended to help citizens report frauds and phone thefts. “If you don’t want to use it, don’t register. If you register, it stays active; if you don’t, it stays inactive,” he directly said.
His comments follow growing industry unease, especially after sources said Apple does not intend to comply with the requirement. Two people aware of Apple’s internal discussions said the company will inform the government that the mandate is incompatible with iOS because it raises “privacy and security concerns” and is not followed in any of its global markets. One source described the order as “a double-barrel gun.”
A second source said Apple will not challenge the directive in court but will state that it “cannot follow the order” due to the security risks it poses. The issue surfaces as Apple faces a significant antitrust case in India, where it has warned that penalties could reach $38 billion.
Other smartphone makers, including Samsung, are still examining the order, an industry source said. According to multiple sources, the government issued the directive without consulting device manufacturers, adding to the tensions around the new requirement.
