India Withdraws Mandate for Pre-Installed Security App on Phones

The Indian government has withdrawn a recent order that would have required smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a state-run security application on new devices. The directive had been issued without a public announcement. The mandate faced significant criticism from digital rights groups and citizens. Critics raised strong concerns about user privacy and potential government surveillance. In response to the public uproar, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has now revoked the order. The ministry stated the decision was made after considering the feedback of various stakeholders. The app in question, named "Cert-In," is designed to scan for and report cybersecurity threats. Authorities had argued it was necessary for national security, but opponents feared it could access sensitive personal data.