Apple to help India develop anti-spam app for iOS
New Delhi, November 15
Apple Inc has agreed to give limited help to the Indian government to develop an anti-spam mobile application for its iOS platform, after refusing to do so due to privacy concerns, according to sources and documents seen by Reuters.
Officials complained Apple dragged its feet on advising the government how to develop an app that would allow iPhone users to report unsolicited marketing texts or calls as spam.
The government app was launched on Google’s Android platform last year, but an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said Apple pushed back on requests for an iOS version due to concerns that a government app with access to call and text logs could compromise its customers’ privacy.
Facing public criticism from the regulator, Apple executives flew to New Delhi last month and told officials the company would help develop the app, but only with limited capabilities, according to a government official aware of the matter.
An Apple spokesman confirmed the new iOS features to combat spam text messages would help the government build the app, denied comment on the app’s inability to access call logs for reporting spam. — Reuters
Limited access
- The US tech giant has been locked in a tussle with India’s telecom regulator for more than a year
- Officials complained Apple dragged its feet on advising the government how to develop an app that would allow iPhone users to report unsolicited marketing texts or calls as spam
- The government app was launched on Google’s Android platform last year, but Apple pushed back on requests for an iOS version due to concerns that a government app with access to call and text logs could compromise its customers’ privacy
