The Indian government is trying to calm the backlash over its order that forced phone makers to pre-install the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ App. Officials now say users can delete the app if they want, yet they still want every device to ship with it or receive it through a software update. The shift changes little for companies caught in the middle of a tense standoff.
Apple told Reuters that it will not follow the directive. In its response, Apple said it never accepts these kinds of app mandates in any market because they create privacy and security risks inside the iOS system. Industry sources told Reuters that Apple plans to repeat this position directly to the government. Even with the updated rule, the core problem remains for Apple.
The original mandate also called for the app to be undeletable, and that part is now softened. Even so, the new version still forces installation, which Apple sees as the same issue dressed differently. The company continues to flag the wider privacy concerns around auto-installing an app tied to government systems.
Standoff Continues
India has been pushing Sanchar Saathi as a security tool. It helps people report stolen phones, block IMEI numbers with carriers, and file complaints about scam callers. Officials say it is their duty to offer this protection nationwide, but the way the directive works puts heavy pressure on manufacturers. These goals sound similar to parts of Find My iPhone and Android’s Find My Device, but the scope of this new app goes far beyond that.
Sanchar Saathi asks for broad access. The app can tap your photos, videos, GPS location, SMS, flashlight controls, and more. This level of access goes well beyond what Apple and Google offer through their built-in tools. Find My iPhone and Find My Device limit themselves to locating your device, locking it, or erasing it. They do not scan your media files or read your text messages.
Apple and the government remain stuck because the updated rule only fixes one part of the problem. Apple still sees the larger privacy and system integrity issues untouched. This happens as India becomes more important to Apple, both as a major consumer market and as a growing manufacturing base.
The disagreement also arrives during a wider clash over a possible antitrust penalty worth billions. That tension makes both sides cautious, and it raises questions about how far the dispute could go. Google has not commented yet, even though several outlets have asked the company to clarify whether it plans to follow the mandate or refuse it like Apple.
