India cancels biometric app mandate for smartphones

India has reportedly scrapped its plan to mandate the inclusion of its Aadhaar biometric ID app on all new smartphones. This decision follows significant opposition from major technology companies, including Apple and Samsung. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the government body responsible for the Aadhaar program, had initially proposed the requirement. The cancellation suggests a shift in approach, potentially prioritizing industry collaboration over regulatory mandates for integrating government identification systems into consumer devices.