India weighs cybersecurity rules that could force phone makers to share source code

The Indian government is considering a proposal that would require smartphone manufacturers to provide the state with access to their operating system source code and make software changes under a new cybersecurity framework.

According to Reuters, the plan has already triggered strong opposition from major industry players, including Apple and Samsung. The proposal includes a package of 83 security standards which, in addition to source code access, would require companies to notify authorities about major software updates.

• The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader push to strengthen data protection amid rising online fraud and data breaches.
• India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market, with around 750 million active devices, and authorities are seeking greater oversight of how these platforms operate.
• India’s IT Secretary S. Krishnan told Reuters that all legitimate industry concerns would be reviewed, adding that it is “premature to read more into it.”
• The ministry said it would not provide detailed comments until consultations with technology companies are completed. Industry representatives argue that such requirements have no international precedent and could expose trade secrets and sensitive proprietary data.