The Indian government has decided not to pre-install the Aadhaar app on smartphones. The UIDAI confirmed that users will now need to download the app themselves. Earlier this year, the proposal faced opposition from major companies like Apple and Samsung, who raised concerns about security and costs. After considering industry feedback, the government changed its decision.
A Reuters report says the central government has cancelled its plan to require smartphone companies to pre-install the Aadhaar app. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) confirmed this decision on Friday, according to Reuters.
What was the proposal to pre-install the Aadhaar app?
The government suggested pre-installing the Aadhaar app on all smartphones sold in India so people would not have to download it themselves. The UIDAI discussed this idea with the Ministry of Electronics and IT, but the ministry decided not to make it mandatory after reviewing the plan. UIDAI told Reuters that the ministry no longer supports making the Aadhaar app a required pre-installation. Aadhaar is a 12-digit ID system that uses fingerprint and iris scans for banking and telecom services.
Companies’ opposition and security concerns
Major smartphone companies such as Apple and Samsung opposed the proposal. They said it could pose security risks and complicate production across different markets. Creating a separate line for India would also increase costs. Companies were also worried that pre-installed apps might affect the device’s global security standards. Because of this feedback, the government reconsidered its decision.
Similar attempts have happened before
This is not the first time the government has tried something like this. The report says this was the sixth proposal in the last two years to pre-install government apps on smartphones. In December, there was an order to pre-install a telecom security app, but it was withdrawn after a few days.
