Government Clarifies: No Proposal to Mandate Smartphone Companies to Share Source Code

New Delhi: The Government of India has clarified that a recent Reuters report claiming that the country is considering a proposal to make smartphone brands share their source code is incorrect. According to the PIB Fact Check Twitter account, the government has no such plan at present.

Official Statement
Responding to the report, the government emphasized that it is not seeking to compel smartphone companies to share source code. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) confirmed that the news suggesting mandatory sharing of source code for major smartphone brands is false. No such proposal is under consideration.

Current Status of Regulatory Discussions
MeitY officials clarified that ongoing discussions with industry stakeholders are part of routine consultations aimed at designing a robust regulatory framework for mobile security. These consultations focus on evaluating safety and security standards before any updates or regulations are implemented. No final rules have been drafted yet, and any future framework will be finalized only after detailed discussions with the industry.

Background of the Reuters Report
The Reuters report had suggested that the government is considering new rules to improve smartphone security. Proposed measures reportedly included accessing source code, informing authorities about major software updates, and implementing other software-level changes. The report noted that global smartphone companies such as Apple and Samsung had raised concerns over the proposals.

Data Security Objectives
The proposed regulations were described as efforts to enhance user data protection, especially in light of rising online fraud and data breaches in one of the world’s largest smartphone markets. Other measures reportedly discussed included:

• Allowing users to uninstall pre-installed apps
• Limiting background access to cameras and microphones
• Mandatory malware scanning
• Notifying government agencies about software updates
• Storing system logs on devices for one year

Industry Concerns Addressed
The Mobile and Electronics Association of India (MAIT), representing global smartphone brands in India, had opposed several of these proposals, citing potential negative effects on user experience, battery life, and software rollout timelines.

The government has emphasized that no decisions have been made, and source code sharing is not being considered at this stage. The focus remains on improving mobile security without adversely impacting the industry.