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India Denies Forcing Smartphone Makers to Share Source Code

The Indian government has strongly refuted an international report claiming it plans to force smartphone manufacturers to share their source code. The IT Ministry stated the report is sensational, selective, and ignores official industry comments. It emphasized that ongoing, structured consultations with stakeholders are part of developing a robust mobile security framework. Industry associations confirm these are long-running discussions, not a sudden policy shift.

Key Points: Govt Refutes Report on Smartphone Source Code Sharing

  • Govt denies forcing source code sharing
  • Calls report sensational and selective
  • Ongoing stakeholder consultations on security
  • Industry says no new immediate regulatory change
2 min read

Govt refutes report on forcing smartphone makers to share source code

Indian government denies forcing Apple, Samsung to share source code, calls report sensational. Ongoing security consultations clarified.

"selectively chosen to ignore the comments... mischievous intent to sensationalise the news - IT Ministry"

New Delhi, Jan 12

The government has refuted a report by an international news organisation that it is proposing to force smartphone makers to share source code with the government and make several software changes as part of a raft of security measures, prompting opposition from giants like Apple and Samsung.

According to IT Ministry, these news reports have not quoted any statement from these smartphone manufacturers or the industry associations which represent them.

"Instead, they have selectively chosen to ignore the comments of industry association which clearly indicates its mischievous intent to sensationalise the news," it said in a statement.

Committed to strengthening cybersecurity and safeguarding the privacy of citizens, the government said that a structured process of stakeholder consultations is going on to develop an appropriate and robust regulatory framework for mobile security.

These consultations are part of the IT Ministry's regular and ongoing engagement with industry on safety and security standards. It is is continuously taking steps to ensure the safety and security of users and to protect their personal data in the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.

"MeitY routinely conducts consultations on various aspects such as safety compliance, electromagnetic interference and compatibility (EMI/EMC) parameters, Indian language support, interface requirements, and security standards. Following stakeholder consultations, detailed discussions are held with industry on different dimensions of security requirements," it explained.

The ministry is working closely with industry stakeholders and addressing their concerns in a constructive manner.

Accordingly, MeitY has been engaging with industry representatives to better understand technical challenges, compliance burdens, and international best practices adopted by smartphone manufacturers.

The ministry said that all legitimate concerns raised by the industry will be examined with an open mind, in the best interests of both the country and the industry.

Earlier, India's smartphone manufacturing industry sought to play down concerns around a reported government proposal on source code sharing, saying the issue is part of a long-running consultation process and does not represent any new or immediate regulatory change.

The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) said that discussions between the government and the industry have been going on for several years and should not be seen as a sudden policy shift.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
While I appreciate the need for security, I hope the consultations are truly open. Forcing source code sharing could backfire and discourage innovation. Let's find a balanced approach that protects users without stifling the tech ecosystem. 🤔
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Arjun K
Absolutely support the government on this. In today's digital age, data is the new oil and we must protect our citizens' data sovereignty. If companies like Apple and Samsung operate here, they must comply with our security standards. Jai Hind!
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Sarah B
As an expat living in Delhi, I find this reassuring. The process seems structured and consultative. It's similar to debates in Europe about data privacy. The key is transparency in these stakeholder discussions.
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Vikram M
The report was clearly misleading. MeitY has a good track record of working with industry. Remember the push for UPI and localization? It all started with consultations. This is how policy should be made.
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Kavya N
My main concern is privacy. If the government gets too much access, what checks are there? We need strong data protection laws first. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act is a start, but implementation is key. 🇮🇳
M
Michael C
From a business perspective, constant policy uncertainty can

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