Indian Government Clarifies No Plan to Force Smartphone Brands to Share Source Code

The Union IT Ministry has emphatically denied recent media reports that claimed the Indian government was working on compelling all smartphone manufacturers to share their source code with the government as part of a new security framework. A clarification in this regard came after a Reuters report sent shockwaves across the global tech industry, particularly among leading smartphone brands operating in India. The government says such reports are misleading and have wrongly interpreted an ongoing consultation process as a final policy decision.

The MeitY has clarified in an official statement that no final regulations have been framed so far. The ministry stated that any future regulatory framework on mobile and digital security will be formulated only after consultations in a detailed and transparent manner with all relevant stakeholders. This is to allay apprehensions of consumers and manufacturers that there is no immediate or unilateral move to mandate the sharing of proprietary software or source code.

MeitY has clarified that consultations with stakeholders happen on a regular basis and have been an established route for a number of years. Consultations of this nature may range from several technical issues such as electromagnetic interference and compatibility (EMI/EMC), compliance of device safety standards to supporting the Indian language and so on. This was clarified to assert that such consultations need not necessarily be misunderstood as radical policy changes.

The ministry condemned Reuters for selective reporting in the news story. They explained that the news did not provide a complete context of the statements from the manufacturers of smartphones regarding the discussions. This selective reporting was responsible for creating unnecessary panic over an issue that is actually a normal process of a policy discussion. They said that selective reporting ignored the statements from the industry bodies that the discussions were in the exploratory phase.

Industry associations have voiced similar sentiments. The India Cellular and Electronics Association said that the government and the smartphone industry have been discussing security standards for many years. "These discussions are part of a long-standing commitment towards enhancing security and manufacture standards in India, rather than some knee-jerk or revolutionary policy shift," ICEA said.

The controversy acquired greater significance after global smartphone giants like Apple and Samsung were quoted in the Reuters report as voicing their apprehension. It was reportedly contended that a proposed package of 83 security standards has no precedent globally, which could disclose sensitive proprietary information. Apple, in particular, has traditionally strongly opposed similar demands elsewhere, even refusing requests for source code access from China between 2014 and 2016, and from US law enforcement agencies.

In the wake of increasing speculations, the Indian government finally made their move to remove any doubts and confusion that might be present in the matter. It has been announced that the reports highlighting the fact that smartphone manufacturers would be forced to share their source code were not true.

To effectively dispel misinformation, a clarification was released via the PIB Fact Check handle on X (Twitter). The statement directly debunked the claim made by Reuters, with a clear declaration that India has no plans to start making smartphone brands share source code. It was reiterated that there's no proposal by MeitY and that consultative talks are taking place.

The government has thereby established its commitment to a collaborative and consultative process with respect to mobile security regulation. As a whole, no decisions have been made, and a future regime would only come into place after consultation. Together, any announcements made to Indian smartphone manufacturers have brought a sense of much-needed clarity, while consumers have received a positive indication that a review is underway with respect to adherence to appropriate standards.