India is planning to introduce a series of security measures that would require smartphone manufacturers to share their source code with the government and make multiple software modifications, a move that has drawn private opposition from tech giants such as Apple and Samsung.
According to four individuals familiar with the matter, along with a review of confidential government and industry documents, these measures include 83 security standards, which also mandate that companies must notify the government before rolling out major software updates.
The technology companies have countered that these security standards are unprecedented globally and pose a risk of exposing proprietary corporate information.
India is the world's second-largest smartphone market, with nearly 750 million mobile devices in use. In recent years, the country has experienced frequent incidents of online fraud and data breaches. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promoting this initiative with the aim of enhancing user data security.
S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, stated that "the government will address the industry's legitimate concerns with an open mind," adding that "it is premature to overinterpret the situation at this stage." A spokesperson for the ministry declined to comment further, citing ongoing consultations with technology companies regarding the proposals.
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