India’s Bold 2026 Security Push: Smartphone Giants Must Hand Over Source Code

New Delhi just dropped a regulatory bombshell that could reshape the global tech landscape. The proposed mandate demands full transparency from device makers—no more black boxes.

The Core Demand: Open the Vault

Forget backdoors or vague security audits. India's draft policy insists manufacturers surrender their core software blueprints. It's a move that cuts straight to the heart of proprietary technology, aiming to bypass perceived vulnerabilities in closed systems. The government argues it's the only way to verify there are no hidden threats to national security.

Industry Shockwaves and Pushback

Expect fierce resistance from major players. Handing over source code isn't just about intellectual property—it's about handing over the crown jewels. Companies warn this could stifle innovation and give competitors, including state-linked entities, an unfair peek under the hood. Some might even reconsider their market presence.

The Global Ripple Effect

If implemented, this doesn't stay in India. It sets a precedent other governments are watching closely. A successful push here could inspire similar regulations worldwide, forcing a fundamental rethink of how tech giants operate in sovereign markets. The era of 'trust us, it's secure' might be ending.

For the finance crowd watching? Another layer of geopolitical risk to price into your tech stock valuations—as if supply chains and chip wars weren't enough. The final verdict will reveal whether digital sovereignty trumps corporate secrecy, or if this proposal gets watered down into another compliance checkbox that enables little but bureaucracy.

India’s government makes demands of phone makers

Below is a list of some of the security requirements India is proposing for smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung, which has prompted behind-the-scenes opposition from tech companies.

• Source code disclosure mandating manufacturers to not only test but also provide proprietary source code for review by government-designated labs, expected to identify vulnerabilities in the phone operating systems that could be exploited by attackers.
• Background permission restrictions that restrict apps from accessing cameras, microphones or location services in the background while phones are inactive, and when those permissions are active, a continuous status bar notification is required 
• Permission review alerts that demand devices to periodically display warnings prompting users to review all app permissions, with continuous notifications.
• One year-long log retention, which requires devices to store security audit logs, including app installations and system logs, for up to 12 months.
• Periodic malware scanning, where phones must periodically scan for malware and identify any potentially harmful applications.
• Option to delete pre-installed apps that come bundled with the phone operating system, except those essential for basic phone functions. 
• Informing a government organization before releasing any major updates or security patches.
• Tamper-detection warnings that detect when phones have been rooted or “jailbroken”, and display continuous warning banners to recommend corrective measures.
• Anti-rollback protection that permanently blocks the installation of older software versions, even if officially signed by the manufacturer, to prevent security downgrades.

What tech companies think of the requirements 

The Indian Government has defended the security requirements by claiming it is to protect its citizens, a MOVE that aligns with Narendra Modi’s data security push. However, major players like Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, and Google, represented by MAIT, the Indian industry group that represents these firms, have expressed opposition, especially regarding the sharing of source code. 

“This is not possible … due to secrecy and privacy,” MAIT, the group representing the smartphone makers, said in a confidential document drafted in response to the government proposal. “Major countries in the EU, North America, Australia, and Africa do not mandate these requirements.”

They claim that there is also no reliable way to detect jailbroken phones or prevent tampering, saying that the anti-rollback lacks standards, and that many pre-installed apps need to be kept as they are critical system components. 

MAIT has reportedly asked the ministry to drop the proposal, according to a source with direct knowledge. The documents from the firm also say regular malware scanning WOULD significantly drain a phone’s battery and that it is “impractical” to seek government approval for software updates, as they are supposed to be timely fixes. 

As for the phone logs that the government has requested to be stored for at least 12 months on devices. MAIT claims most devices lack the capacity to store such logs on them, making it an impossible request to fulfill. 

In response to the points made by MAIT, IT Secretary S. Krishnan claimed that any legitimate concerns of the industry will be addressed with an open mind, while adding that it was “premature to read more into it.”

Meanwhile, a ministry spokesperson refused to comment further, claiming consultation was ongoing with the tech companies on the proposals.

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