In a major reversal following public backlash, the Centre has withdrawn its directive that required smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices. The move sparked intense concerns over privacy, surveillance, and constitutional validity, pushing the government to rethink the mandate.
Backlash Over Mandatory Installation
The Sanchar Saathi app, introduced as a cybersecurity tool to help users track stolen phones and report fraudulent mobile connections, faced widespread criticism soon after the government ordered compulsory installation. Opposition leaders, civil society groups, and digital rights advocates argued that forcing an undeletable government app onto citizens’ phones violated privacy and could open doors to surveillance.
Scindia: App Is Optional, Not a Surveillance Tool
Addressing the Lok Sabha, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified that the government never intended the app to be mandatory and affirmed that it can be deleted freely by users. He strongly denied concerns of snooping.
“Snooping is neither possible through Sanchar Saathi, nor will it ever be,” Scindia said.
He emphasised that the app works only with voluntary user registration, does not activate on its own, and does not collect data without explicit consent.
Centre Open to Amending Rules
Scindia assured Parliament that the government is open to revising guidelines based on public feedback.
He framed Sanchar Saathi not as a surveillance tool, but as a citizen-participation-based safety platform aimed at combating fake mobile connections, fraud IMEI numbers, stolen phones, and cyber fraud.
The Department of Telecommunications, he added, is willing to improve the platform further to address public concerns and enhance user trust.
1.4 Crore Downloads Show High Public Interest
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Sanchar Saathi has already been downloaded by 1.4 crore Indians, reflecting growing awareness about telecom fraud. In the last 24 hours alone, over 6 lakh new users registered—marking a tenfold surge in uptake.
The government says this rise signals “citizen confidence in a platform designed for their safety,” while reiterating that users remain entirely free to uninstall it.
A Step Back, But Dialogue Continues
With the mandatory installation clause withdrawn, the controversy is likely to ease, but the broader debate on data privacy, digital rights, and state intervention in personal devices is far from over. The Centre maintains that Sanchar Saathi is “of the people, for the people”, but its future evolution will depend on transparency, safeguards, and ongoing public trust.
