India Demands Smartphone Source Code Access from Phone Makers

India is shaking up the smartphone industry with a controversial new proposal. The government wants smartphone manufacturers to share their source code as part of a massive security overhaul. This move has triggered intense behind-the-scenes opposition from tech giants like Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi.

The Indian government drafted these new rules to boost data security. Currently, India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market with nearly 750 million users. However, online fraud and data breaches are rising. Consequently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration is pushing for tighter controls.

Indian Government’s Demands

The proposed package includes 83 security standards. The most sensitive requirement mandates that companies share their source code. This underlying programming makes phones work. The government wants to analyse and test this code in designated Indian labs.

Furthermore, the government wants more control over software updates. Manufacturers would have to alert the National Centre for Communication Security about major updates and patches before release. The Centre would retain the right to test them.

The proposal lists other technical changes too. For instance, companies must allow users to uninstall pre-installed apps. Additionally, the software must block apps from using cameras and microphones in the background to avoid malicious usage. Finally, the rules mandate automatic, periodic malware scanning and require devices to store system activity logs for at least 12 months.

India Faces Industry Pushback

Technology companies are fighting back. An industry group, MAIT, represents firms like Apple, Samsung, and Google. They argue that these requirements lack any global precedent. Major markets in the EU and North America do not mandate such rules.

MAIT outlined several critical issues in a confidential document. First, they claim sharing source code is “not possible” due to secrecy and privacy concerns. Apple, for example, previously refused similar requests from China and US law enforcement.

Second, the technical demands are impractical. Storing logs for one year is impossible because devices lack the storage space. Moreover, constant malware scanning drains battery life significantly. The industry also argues that seeking government approval for every software update will slow down essential security patches.

The Road Ahead

The stakes are high. Xiaomi and Samsung dominate the market with 19% and 15% shares respectively, while Apple holds 5%.

The IT ministry and tech executives are scheduled to meet on Tuesday for further discussions. IT Secretary S. Krishnan stated that the government will address legitimate concerns with an “open mind”. However, the government has ignored lobbying before. Last year, it enforced rigorous testing for security cameras despite industry protests.

As of now, the proposals remain under consultation. Tech companies hope the ministry will drop the strict mandates before they become law.