New Delhi Mandates Non-Deletable Cyber Safety App on All Smartphones

The Indian government’s telecoms ministry has issued a controversial order compelling all major smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a state-owned cyber security application, ‘Sanchar Saathi,’ on every new device sold in the country. The directive is particularly contentious as it mandates that the application must be deployed in a way that prevents users from deleting or disabling it.

The private order, circulated to companies including tech giants like Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi, sets a 90-day deadline for compliance. Manufacturers must ensure the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app is factory-installed on all new mobile phones and delivered via mandatory software updates to devices already in the supply chain.

The government justifies the move as a crucial step to safeguard national telecom cyber security. Officials cited the “serious endangerment” posed by duplicate or spoofed IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers, which are frequently exploited for scams and network misuse.

The ‘Sanchar Saathi’ platform functions as a tool for citizens to report suspicious activity, verify the authenticity of IMEIs, and centrally block lost or stolen devices. Since its launch, the app has been credited with blocking over 3.7 million stolen phones and terminating over 30 million fraudulent connections, demonstrating its utility in fighting mobile device crime.

However, the non-deletable requirement is set to trigger a major clash with industry players and privacy advocates. Apple, in particular, maintains strict internal policies that historically prohibit the pre-installation of any government or third-party applications before a device is sold. Analysts believe the US tech company, which controls a small but growing share of the Indian market, is likely to negotiate for a compromise, such as offering an option to nudge users toward installation rather than a mandatory lock-in.The outcome of this directive will be closely watched, as it tests the government’s power to enforce cyber mandates in one of the world’s largest and most fiercely competitive smartphone markets.