Smartphone Giants Resist India's Aadhaar App Pre-Installation Push

The Indian government approached major tech firms such as Apple, Samsung, and Google with a proposal to pre-install its biometric identification app, Aadhaar, on smartphones. This initiative, emerging in January, has been met with resistance from an industry group representing the smartphone makers, as disclosed in letters exchanged within the industry.

Aadhaar, a 12-digit identity number linked to individual fingerprints and iris scans, is held by nearly 1.34 billion people in India. While the government touts the app's security, privacy advocates spotlight concerns, particularly following data leaks involving millions of personal details on the dark web.

The proposal has triggered apprehension among companies over increased production costs and potential user issues. Especially apprehensive were Apple and Samsung, citing safety and security issues, according to sources. UIDAI, the Aadhaar governing body, maintains that pre-installation would enhance access to Aadhaar services, though industry insiders doubt its public benefit.