Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in a release, refuted the statement by a media report that the government is proposing to force smartphone makers to share source code with the government and make several software changes as part of a raft of security measures, prompting opposition from giants like Apple and Samsung.

“These news reports have not quoted any statement from these smart phone manufacturers or the industry associations which represent them. Instead, they have selectively chosen to ignore the comments of industry association which clearly indicates its mischievous intent to sensationalise the news,” the statement read.

The news report by Reuters noted that industry groups had raised concerns that sharing source code could expose sensitive intellectual property and weaken user privacy protections. Provisions including the government's access to equipment for security testing and the long-term preservation of system logs are said to have alarmed businesses.

MeitY said that it routinely conducts consultations on various aspects such as safety compliance, electromagnetic interference and compatibility (EMI/EMC) parameters, Indian language support, interface requirements, and security standards.

The IT ministry said that the government remains committed to working closely with industry stakeholders and addressing their concerns in a constructive manner, and MeitY has been engaging with industry representatives to better understand technical challenges, compliance burdens, and international best practices adopted by smartphone manufacturers.

The statement comes as an effort to ensure the safety and security of users and to protect their personal data in an evolving digital ecosystem.

“Mobile security is a critical aspect as smartphones are increasingly used for financial transactions, delivery of public services, and storage of sensitive personal information. With over a billion mobile users in the country, smartphones today hold vast amounts of personal and financial data, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals,” the statement said.

“In this context, a structured process of stakeholder consultations is going on to develop an appropriate and robust regulatory framework for mobile security. These consultations are part of the Ministry’s regular and ongoing engagement with industry on safety and security standards,” the IT ministry said.

The IT ministry repeated in the said statement that any legitimate concerns of the industry would be examined with an open mind in the best interest of country and industry.