Government Drops Plan to Mandate Aadhaar App on Smartphones Following Public Backlash

Indian Government Drops Proposal to Pre-Install Aadhaar App on Smartphones

India's government has decided not to proceed with a proposal to require Apple, Samsung, and other smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the country's biometric identification app Aadhaar on phones. The decision, made by the IT ministry, comes after a consultation with stakeholders from the electronics industry and raises questions about the government's digital push.

The proposal, which was first reported by Reuters last month, would have required smartphone makers to pre-install the Aadhaar app on devices sold in India. The app, which is held by nearly 1.34 billion residents, is a unique 12-digit identity number tied to an individual's fingerprints and iris scans. It is widely used for verification purposes in banking and telecom services, as well as for faster airport entry.

The IT ministry reviewed the proposal and ultimately decided not to mandate the pre-installation of the Aadhaar app on smartphones. The decision comes after the government faced criticism from smartphone giants, who raised concerns about device security and compatibility. Sources told Reuters that Apple and Samsung, in particular, had concerns about the proposal due to questions over safety and security.

Read also: 60 Minutes' Future Under Scrutiny Amid CBS News Turmoil

This decision marks the sixth time in two years that the government has sought pre-installation of state apps on phones, and all six attempts have been opposed by the industry. The government's decision not to proceed with the proposal shows the constraints on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's digital push as India courts firms like Apple to expand its role as a global smartphone hub.

Aadhaar's Safety Concerns

While the government maintains that Aadhaar is safe and secure, the app has faced persistent criticism from privacy advocates, including for data leaks where personal details of millions of holders surfaced on the dark web. Apar Gupta, founder of the Internet Freedom Foundation, a New Delhi-based digital advocacy group, welcomed the government's decision to drop the Aadhaar pre-installation proposal.

Read also: Uber Driver Allegedly Assaults Passenger in Mumbai Over Unpaid Fare Dispute

Gupta said that other such proposals should also be spiked as they lack legislative foundation and have no public policy goal. He added that the government's decision to drop the Aadhaar pre-installation proposal is a welcome exercise of regulatory restraint that recognizes citizens' autonomy over their phones.