Could New Smartphone Rules Impact Your Privacy? India Reportedly Seeks Source Code From Smartphone Makers

India is reportedly considering tighter smartphone security norms that could require manufacturers to make software-level changes. However, the Union IT Ministry has dismissed claims that companies would be forced to share their source code, calling such reports misleading. Here's a closer look at what the reports claimed and how the government officially responded.

India Reportedly Proposes New Smartphone Security Rules

According to a report by Reuters, India is weighing strict new smartphone security rules that could force device makers to reveal source code and change core software. Industry representatives say the plan, built around 83 proposed standards, could expose confidential technology and impose heavy compliance demands on companies operating in India.

The proposal sits within Prime Minister Narendra Modi's broader effort to tighten protection of digital data amid rising cybercrime. India is the world's second-largest smartphone market, with almost 750 million devices in use, and officials say stronger safeguards are needed as online fraud and corporate data leaks keep increasing across sectors.

Smartphone makers traditionally protect their source code as a core trade secret. Apple turned down a similar request from China between 2014 and 2016, and previous attempts by United States law enforcement to obtain such access have also failed. Industry executives say India’s move appears tougher than rules in many large markets.

IT Secretary S. Krishnan told Reuters on Saturday that "any legitimate concerns of the industry will be addressed with an open mind", and also said it was "premature to read more into it". A separate ministry spokesperson said by email that no further comment was possible while consultations with smartphone makers and other stakeholders were still underway.

After Reuters first reported the proposals, the IT ministry released a statement late on Sunday describing the talks as an effort to build "an appropriate and robust regulatory framework for mobile security", and said it "routinely" engaged with the industry "to better understand technical and compliance burden." The ministry also said it "refutes the statement" that it is already planning to demand source code, while not addressing the specific internal papers cited.

The government has not indicated when a final decision on the India smartphone security rules will be taken, and talks with smartphone manufacturers and industry groups are ongoing. Officials continue to stress the goal of better data protection, while companies warn the draft system could slow software updates, raise costs and diverge from security practices in other major markets.

Via