New Delhi [India], December 4 (HBTV): The Ministry of Communications on Wednesday withdrew its directive requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices, following concerns over privacy and surveillance. The app will now remain available for voluntary download.
The ministry’s decision came after strong criticism that mandatory pre-installation could compromise user choice and potentially allow unchecked surveillance. The government maintained that the app is secure and aimed at safeguarding citizens from cyber threats but agreed to prioritise user consent.
The Sanchar Saathi app enables users to verify device authenticity, report lost or stolen phones, and block suspicious connections. According to official data, more than 1.4 crore users have already downloaded the app, which is available in 21 Indian languages.
Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia reiterated that the Sanchar Saathi app can be deleted from mobile phones and will not operate unless a user registers on it. He dismissed speculation about snooping linked to the pre-installation directive.
Replying to a question by Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda, Scindia said that while the government has a responsibility to protect citizens from misuse of mobile connectivity, users will have full control over whether to activate the app. He added that the government is open to revising the Department of Telecommunications order based on public feedback.
He stated that any citizen has the right to delete the app and emphasised that its success depends on public participation. According to the minister, snooping is neither possible nor permitted through the application.
During the Question Hour, Hooda raised concerns that pre-loaded apps may retain certain functions even after being disabled, questioning whether this posed a privacy risk.
Union Minister of State for Communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, reaffirmed that the Sanchar Saathi app is designed solely to prevent cyber fraud. Speaking to ANI, he urged critics to download the app and assess its features themselves. He noted that cyber attacks have grown more sophisticated and said the app is intended to protect vulnerable users by simplifying reporting mechanisms and providing support in multiple Indian languages.
He said the app is available on both Android and iOS platforms and highlighted that major app stores would not have approved it if it contained malicious elements.
In a statement, the Ministry of Communications explained that the initial mandate for pre-installation was intended to expand access to cybersecurity tools, particularly for less aware users. It maintained that the app’s only function is to protect citizens from cyber fraud, enabling jan bhagidari by allowing users to report fraudulent activity.
The ministry said that 1.4 crore users have already downloaded the app and contribute information on roughly 2,000 fraud incidents per day. It further noted that registrations have increased sharply, with six lakh citizens downloading the app in a single day, reflecting rising public confidence.
(ANI)