India is investigating the Tata data leak that revealed the secrets of the Apple iPhone

“We are investigating,” S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, told reporters (File) | Photo credit: REUTERS

India is investigating a data breach at Tata ‌Electronics that exposed documents related to Apple’s unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, the country’s IT minister said on Thursday in the government’s first public comments on the incident.

Sensitive component and supplier lists as well as photos of iPhone 18 Pro models are among the files posted on the dark web by a ransomware group that stole data from Tata Electronics, Apple’s Indian supplier, Reuters reported.

“We are investigating,” S. Krishnan, secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, told reporters.

Krishnan said the incident was reported to India’s Computer Emergency Response Team, the lead agency responsible for computer security issues.

The breach threatens the carefully negotiated, highly sensitive business of building the iPhone, which Apple assembles using a collection of suppliers around the world.

Apple is expected to release its iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in September. The leak contains at least six files that reveal which companies make specific ‌components for iPhone 18 Pro models, information that Apple does not disclose in its public database of suppliers.

Tata hired a global consultant to conduct a forensic audit after the leak also saw documents from Tesla, Qualcomm and TSMC posted on the dark web, Reuters reported.

Published – 04 Jul 2026 10:29 IST