NEW DELHI - India's government has abandoned a proposal to require smartphone manufacturers like Apple and Samsung to pre-install the nation's biometric identification app, Aadhaar. The decision comes after significant opposition from the tech industry.
UIDAI, the state body overseeing Aadhaar, had requested in January that the IT ministry engage with leading smartphone makers to consider the mandatory pre-installation. Aadhaar, a 12-digit unique identity number linked to fingerprints and iris scans, is held by nearly 1.34 billion residents and is crucial for services like banking and telecom verification.
The IT ministry reviewed the proposal and is "not in favour of mandating the pre-installation of the Aadhaar App on smartphones," UIDAI stated Friday. No specific reason was provided. The ministry had consulted with electronics industry stakeholders before making its decision.
This marks the sixth instance in two years where the government has sought pre-installation of state apps, with all previous attempts facing industry opposition. Smartphone makers had raised concerns regarding device security, compatibility, and increased production costs associated with separate manufacturing lines for India.
The government's retraction reflects the challenges faced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's digital initiatives, particularly as India aims to expand its role as a global smartphone hub. Previously, an order mandating a telecom security app pre-installation had to be rolled back within days due to criticism.
A senior Indian official noted that the IT ministry does not support app preloading unless deemed "very essential."
Despite government assurances of safety, Aadhaar has drawn criticism from privacy advocates due to data leaks. Digital advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation welcomed the decision, calling for the rejection of similar proposals lacking legislative basis.