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India Proposal to Access Smartphone Source Code Triggers Pushback From Apple, Samsung

By  |  January 12, 2026

India is considering sweeping new security requirements for smartphones that would compel manufacturers to share source code with the government and make a range of software-related changes, a proposal that has triggered quiet resistance from major players such as Apple and Samsung. The measures are part of a broader push by New Delhi to strengthen digital security in a market that is now one of the largest in the world, according to Reuters.

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    The proposed framework includes 83 separate security standards and would also require companies to notify the government before rolling out significant software updates. Industry representatives have argued that the plan has no clear international parallel and could expose sensitive intellectual property, per Reuters. Those concerns are detailed in confidential government and industry documents reviewed by Reuters and described by people familiar with the discussions.

    The initiative is tied to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on protecting user data as incidents of online fraud and data breaches rise in India, which has an estimated 750 million smartphones in use. Officials see the proposals as a way to tighten oversight in the world’s second-largest smartphone market, according to Reuters.

    Read more: Apple Moves to Halt India Antitrust Case Over Penalty Rules

    Addressing the concerns, IT Secretary S. Krishnan told Reuters on Saturday that “any legitimate concerns of the industry will be addressed with an open mind,” adding that it was “premature to read more into it.” A spokesperson for the ministry said in an emailed statement the same day that it could not offer further comment while consultations with technology companies were ongoing.

    Following publication of the Reuters report, the IT ministry issued an additional statement late Sunday clarifying that the discussions are intended to develop “an appropriate and robust regulatory framework for mobile security.” The ministry added that it “routinely” engages with the industry to better understand technical challenges and compliance burdens, according to Reuters.

    Source: Reuters