Apple Braces for Privacy Battle as India Mandates Government App Pre-Installation on Phones
Cupertino, CA – December 1, 2023 – Apple is facing a significant challenge too its privacy stance as the Indian government has ordered mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install a government-developed app on all devices sold within the country, beginning in 2025. The move, framed as a measure to enhance “cyber safety,” is sparking concerns about potential state surveillance and erosion of user privacy.
The core issue, experts say, is the precedent this sets.Allowing one government to mandate app installation opens the door for similar demands globally, and raises security risks as these apps may not adhere to Apple’s stringent privacy and security standards. The possibility of widespread state surveillance becoming as simple as an app install is a growing worry.
“The demand effectively removes user consent as a meaningful choice,” stated Internet advocacy lawyer Mishi Choudhary in an interview with Reuters.
While Apple has historically resisted government attempts to compromise the security of its platforms, the company is ultimately bound by the laws of the countries in which it operates. Past instances demonstrate this reality: reports suggest apple may have already introduced a backdoor vulnerability to the iPhone to comply with requests from the UK government, and currently stores iCloud data on locally-based servers in China.
This situation underscores a critical point: opposing increasing state surveillance requires direct political engagement from citizens, rather than solely relying on private companies to defend privacy rights. Apple, like all entities, must operate within the legal framework, even when those laws are perceived as detrimental to user security and freedom.
