India’s Smartphone Security Proposal Draws Privacy Concerns

India’s plan to require smartphone makers to share source code as part of new security measures has drawn criticism from privacy experts and technology companies, Reuters reported. The proposal, which also includes maintaining phone logs for a year, aims to strengthen data security amid rising online fraud and breaches in the country’s nearly 750 million smartphone market.Apple and Samsung have reportedly raised private objections to the measures, according to confidential government and industry documents reviewed by Reuters. The proposals would require companies to notify officials before releasing security updates, with authorities allowed to test them, a step critics say could create conflicts of interest and increase the risk of surveillance.India’s IT ministry has emphasized that legitimate industry concerns will be addressed through ongoing consultations, and it denied plans to mandate source code sharing. However, privacy advocates argue that the proposals undermine user autonomy and could give the state excessive control over personal devices. The Internet Freedom Foundation described the plan as a “massive intrusion” that could micromanage how millions of Indians use their phones.Legal and technology experts also expressed concern that requesting source code could erode trust in India’s business environment. Akash Karmakar, a partner at Indian law firm Panag & Babu, said the move would represent a “massive step backwards” for the country’s ease of doing business.The IT ministry recently canceled a scheduled meeting with tech companies meant to address feedback on the plan. Observers say the latest proposals follow the government’s revocation last month of a prior order requiring a state-run cybersecurity app, which faced similar opposition from advocacy groups and lawmakers.