India’s Source Code Demand Sparks Tech Revolt

Reports indicate India has drafted 83 cybersecurity rules for smartphone manufacturers, including a contentious requirement to provide proprietary source code to government-designated labs for security testing. Industry group MAIT—representing Apple, Samsung, Google, and others—strongly opposes the move, citing IP risks, potential exposure of vulnerabilities, and delays to critical security patches, while the government claims the proposal is still consultative and denies seeking source code. The debate highlights tension between India’s manufacturing ambitions and intrusive regulatory measures that could deter leading tech firms.