US EditionSmartphone Giants Resist India's Aadhaar App Pre-Installation Push
Tech firms and the Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology oppose pre-installing Aadhaar due to privacy, security, and increased production costs, according to industry documents.
- On January 13, UIDAI asked the IT Ministry to engage Google, Apple and leading smartphone manufacturers about pre-installing the Aadhaar app, to improve access and reach, officials say.
- MAIT told members and the ministry that industry opposes pre-install mandates, warning they would force separate production lines for India and export markets and 'would not drive greater public good' amid ongoing clashes with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government following a prior telecom pre-installation rollback.
- On March 10, MAIT wrote to Ravinder Kumar Meena opposing pre-installation of the Sachet app, stating its internal communications are confidential.
- It was not immediately clear whether the proposal remains active, as letters reviewed by Reuters show growing discontent among smartphone companies while the government defends UIDAI's safety despite criticism over data leaks affecting nearly 1.34 billion residents.
- No country except Russia mandates pre-installation, raising concerns as the Aadhaar app’s latest version manages family profiles, biometric locks and QR code sharing, increasing stakes if preloaded.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Government pushes for Aadhaar app preload on smartphones: Apple, Samsung raise concerns
The Indian government has been reportedly planning to make all new smartphones come with the Aadhaar app already installed on the devices. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has pushed for this by saying that it will make the Aadhaar service way more accessible to the user. So, in case this happens, you will be able to turn on your new handset and find the Aadhaar app already installed, just like any other utility app. Why the …
Government wants to put Aadhaar app on every new smartphone, Samsung and Apple are pushing back
The Government of India privately asked smartphone makers such as Apple and Samsung to preload the Aadhaar app on all phones. However, as per reports, the smartphone manufacturers have opposed this move. This comes just weeks after Apple and other companies pushed back against a similar mandate for the Sanchar Saathi app. Here are the details.
India's proposal to preload national ID app Aadhaar on phones faced pushback: Report
India's government proposed pre-installing its Aadhaar biometric app on smartphones. Tech giants like Apple and Samsung opposed this move. Industry bodies cited concerns over production costs and potential functional issues. This request is part of a larger trend of government app pre-installation demands. Companies argue such mandates are problematic and not beneficial for public good.
Exclusive-India's proposal to preload national ID app Aadhaar on phones faced pushback
NEW DELHI, March 19 (Reuters) - India's government privately proposed in January that firms like Apple, Samsung and Google consider pre-installing its biometric identification app Aadhaar on phones, a move opposed by a group representing the smartphone giants, industry letters show.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 72% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
