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  "path": "/2026/04/17/india-preinstall-government-id-app/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-17T15:07:06.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.macrumors.com",
  "tags": [
    "India",
    "Reuters",
    "start preinstalling",
    "India Won't Require Apple to Preinstall Government ID App on iPhones",
    "MacRumors.com",
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  "textContent": "India will not require smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung to preload devices with a state-owned biometric identification app, reports _Reuters_.\n\n\nThe Unique Identification Authority of India asked the IT ministry to start talks with Apple and other tech companies about the possibility of mandatory preinstallation of the Aadhaar identity app, but the IT ministry told _Reuters_ today that it reviewed the proposal and is \"not in favor\" of mandating the app's preinstallation.\n\nAadhaar is a 12-digit identity number that residents of India can apply for, and it has been issued to more than 1.34 billion residents. The number is linked to an individual's image, fingerprints, and iris scans, and it serves as proof of residence. It is used for government benefits, banking, taxes, mobile connections, and more.\n\nThe Identification Authority said that the IT ministry consulted with \"stakeholders from the electronics industry\" before deciding not to proceed with the proposal to preload Aadhaar. India's government has asked smartphone makers to preinstall state-owned apps on devices six times over the last two years, according to _Reuters_. Smartphone makers like Apple have thwarted all requests.\n\nLate last year, India's Department of Communications gave smartphone companies 90 days to start preinstalling the Sanchar Saathi government app on all new devices sold in the country. Sanchar Saathi is a government app that lets users block stolen devices, report fraudulent calls, and verify second-hand phones. Apple told government officials that it would not comply with the requirement because of privacy and security concerns, and the government dropped the issue.\n\nApple told India the same thing about the Aadhaar app, informing the IT ministry that it had safety and security concerns about preloading apps.\n\nTag: India\n\n\nThis article, \"India Won't Require Apple to Preinstall Government ID App on iPhones\" first appeared on MacRumors.com\n\nDiscuss this article in our forums\n\n",
  "title": "India Won't Require Apple to Preinstall Government ID App on iPhones"
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