Aadhaar App Preload Plan Facing Pushback — MAIT Calls Report 'Unwarranted Attempt to Sensationalise 3-Month-Old Discussion'

The Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (MAIT), an ndustry body, has pushed back against reports claiming that tech giants like Apple, Samsung and Google resisted a proposal to preload the Aadhaar app on smartphones, calling the coverage “misleading” and based on incomplete information. Earlier, a report by Reuters said that the Government of India has asked the smartphone manufacturers to install the Aadhaar app on all new handsets.,It said, "MAIT views the ibid reportage as an instance of unwarranted attempt to sensationalize a discussion that is three months old. The said article is understandably based on disjoint pieces of internal communications which were strictly intended for the sole use of its addresses.

It is critical to clarify that these discussions/communications represented an initial stage of consultation and were never issued as a government mandate. The dialogue was a preliminary exploration of ideas, typical of the early phases of policy formulation."","MAIT remains appreciative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and its consistently transparent approach toward industry consultation. This collaborative spirit strengthens the industry's faith in the fairness and robustness of the Indian regulatory ecosystem," it added. , According to Reuters, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) approached smartphone makers earlier this year, asking that the Aadhar app be pre-installed on devices sold in India, and the proposal was discussed with Google, Samsung, and Apple through the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

However, the idea is reportedly facing resistance.,The Reuters report suggested that the Manufacturer’s Association for Information Technology (MAIT), a body that represents tech firms, has reportedly rejected the move and cited concerns over privacy and operational complexity.

According to the report, smartphone makers like Samsung and Apple have flagged potential privacy risks linked to pre-installed government apps tied to sensitive biometric data. These concerns are similar to objections raised during the previous instruction from the government about installing the Sanchar Saath app in the new smartphones.,Moreover, MAIT has informed of logistical challenges. It cites that pre-installing a region-specific app is likely to force smartphone makers to maintain separate production lines bound only for India.

This move could eventually complicate global supply chains, leading to increased costs. Reportedly, the organisation argued in an internal communication that the move may not deliver meaningful public benefit.,Get Latest News live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Technology Science and around the world.