Apple will now help India develop a mobile app to help
block spam calls and messages, after initially refusing to do so due to privacy
concerns.
According to a report by Reuters, the US giant has
been locked in a tussle with India's telecoms 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.
At the moment, the government app is available on
Android since last year. However, Apple pushed back a request for an iOS
version as the DND app violates its privacy policy. Facing criticism from the
regulator, Apple finally decided to go ahead and help develop the app but only
“with limited capabilities”.
The report added, “Apple's executives have told
India that its current iOS platform might not allow for some of the
government's requests, such as making call logs available within the app that
would allow users to report them as spam.” However, Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI) R.S. Sharma said he was unhappy with Apple for not
responding swiftly to the government's requests.
