India will not require smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung to preload devices with a state-owned biometric identification app, reports Reuters . The Unique Identification Authority of India asked the IT ministry to start talks with Apple and other tech companies about the possibility of mandatory preinstallation of the Aadhaar identity app, but the IT ministry told Reuters today that it reviewed the proposal and is "not in favor" of mandating the app's preinstallation. Aadhaar is a 12-digit identity number that residents of India can apply for, and it has been issued to more than 1.34 billion residents. The number is linked to an individual's image, fingerprints, and iris scans, and it serves as proof of residence. It is used for government benefits, banking, taxes, mobile connections, and more. The Identification Authority said that the IT ministry consulted with "stakeholders from the electronics industry" before deciding not to proceed with the proposal to preload Aadhaar. India's government has asked smartphone makers to preinstall state-owned apps on devices six times over the last two years, according to Reuters . Smartphone makers like Apple have thwarted all requests. Late last year, India's Department of Communications gave smartphone companies 90 days to start preinstalling the Sanchar Saathi government app on all new devices sold in the country. Sanchar Saathi is a government app that lets users block stolen devices, report fraudulent calls, and verify second-hand phones. Apple told government officials that it would not comply with the requirement because of privacy and security concerns, and the government dropped the issue. Apple told India the same thing about the Aadhaar app, informing the IT ministry that it had safety and security concerns about preloading apps. Tag: India This article, " India Won't Require Apple to Preinstall Government ID App on iPhones " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
India's government has abandoned its proposal that would require smartphone manufacturers to preinstall the state-owned biometric identification app, Aadhaar, on phones. India drops proposal mandating Apple preinstall national ID app In November, India's Ministry of Communications issued a directive ordering smartphone producers to preload Aadhaar on any phone sold within the country. The order would have affected Apple, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi. According to Reuters , India's IT ministry has since reviewed the proposal and "is not in favour of mandating the pre-installation of the Aadhaar App on smartphones." The ministry said the decision came after it held a "consultation with stakeholders from the electronics industry." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
