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Apple\u2019s warnings in late October that Indian journalists and opposition figures may have been targeted by state-sponsored attacks<\/a> prompted a forceful counterattack from Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s government. Officials publicly doubted Apple\u2019s findings and announced a probe into device security.<\/p>\n Behind closed doors, senior officials from Modi\u2019s administration went further, demanding Apple soften the political impact of the warnings, Washington Post reports<\/a>. Senior officials summoned Apple representatives to insist they provide alternative explanations, even flying in an Apple security expert to meet with ministry leaders, the report adds.<\/p>\n The pressure campaign disturbed Apple executives in California but achieved limited results, the report added. While Apple India officials initially helped cast doubt on the alerts \u2013 issuing a statement that in part said it was possible some notifications may be false alarms \u2013 the company issued no follow-up statement placating authorities after the expert\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n The report adds:<\/p>\n The recent episode also exemplified the dangers facing government critics in India and the lengths to which\u00a0<\/b>the Modi administration will go to deflect suspicions that it has engaged in hacking against its perceived enemies, according to digital rights groups, industry workers and Indian journalists.<\/p>\n Many of the more than 20 people who received Apple\u2019s warnings at the end of October have been publicly\u00a0<\/b>critical of Modi or his longtime ally, Gautam Adani, an Indian energy and infrastructure tycoon. They included a firebrand politician from West Bengal state, a Communist leader from southern India and a New Delhi-based spokesman for the nation\u2019s\u00a0<\/b>largest opposition party.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n For Apple, maintaining its commitment to user security took priority over risks to its growing India business. Apple, which opened two official stores in India this year<\/a>, plans to move 25% of iPhone production to India by 2025<\/a>, according to JP Morgan analysts.\u00a0But the showdown revealed Modi\u2019s willingness to turn the screws on Big Tech.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n