A proposal by the Narendra Modi-led Union government to have major technology companies, including Apple, Samsung, and Google, pre-install its biometric identification app, Aadhaar, on new phones was reportedly opposed by the Indian IT industry body, MAIT.
Reuters reported that according to industry documents, the Aadhaar request was one of six such demands made by the Indian government, which the Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT) pushed back against.
The development comes just months after a similar directive for the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app was revoked. The telecom security app was presented as a solution to combat mobile-related fraud, cybercrime, and device theft, but it triggered a political storm last year after the Centre directed smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the app on all new devices. In December, following widespread criticism, the government revoked the order.
Why did MAIT oppose the Centre’s move?
Aadhaar is a unique 12-digit identification number for nearly 1.34 billion residents, and is linked to fingerprints and iris scans. It is widely used for verification processes in banking and telecommunications. Despite assurances from the government that the Aadhaar system is safe, there have been concerns over privacy, especially in the backdrop of data leaks where personal details of millions of Aadhaar holders have appeared on the dark web.
According to an internal email from MAIT dated January 13, India's Aadhaar authority, UIDAI, approached the IT ministry in January to engage with Google, Apple and leading smartphone manufacturers to explore the possibility of pre-installing a new version of its Aadhaar app.
also read
- Vivo V70 Elite smartphone review: A feature-packed smartphone for shutterbugs
- The road to semiconductor self-reliance starts with simple chips | OPINION
- Trust, consent, accountability: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw signals tougher line for digital platforms
- The privacy revolution: Is your data finally yours?
The request was opposed by companies because of concerns over increased production costs and functional issues for users, according to the MAIT's documents. Apple and Samsung, in particular, highlighted safety and security concerns with the proposal, the Reuters report said.
None of the companies have publicly made any comments on the matter so far. In a statement to Reuters, MAIT emphasised that its internal communications are confidential. They added that the use of such material in reporting "risks distorting the true context of industry discussions" and could potentially hinder their advocacy efforts.
As per a January email sent by MAIT to its members, which was reviewed by Reuters, UIDAI reasoned that the pre-installation would enable people to "readily access essential Aadhaar functionalities without the need for separate downloads" and "enhance its reach and accessibility". However, MAIT's member companies said that pre-installation "would not drive greater public good", and that it would mean producing separate devices for India and other global markets. MAIT also pointed out that, apart from Russia, no other country mandates the pre-installation of government apps on mobile phones.
The recently launched Aadhaar app, introduced in January, allows users to update their personal information, manage profiles for their family members, and secure their biometric data to prevent misuse.
It remains unclear whether the government is still actively pursuing this proposal or if it has been discontinued.
MAIT had also sent a letter to IT ministry official Ravinder Kumar Meena on March 10, opposing another government request for the pre-installation of an app called Sachet, a disaster alert service.
