Sanchar Saathi App – Govt. Takes U Turn After Public Pushback

Narendra Modi’s government has taken a quick U turn on the mandatory installation of Sanchar Saathi app in mobile phones after facing huge backlash from all quarters from the past few days. Today afternoon, an official press note revoking its earlier order has been released by communications ministry. 

“The Government with an intent to provide access to cyber security to all citizens had mandated pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones. The app is secure and purely meant to help citizens from bad actors in the cyber world…Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, Government has decided not to make the pre- installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers,” read the press release. 

Last week, the Department of Telecommunications under government of India issued a directive which mandates smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app on their phones with an intent to help citizens prevent cyber frauds. The homegrown cybersecurity application was launched in 2023 and allows users to verify their device’s unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number and report any misuse. 

However, the move received an immediate pushback from both mobile companies and also the Opposition parties. There has been a huge uproar in the Parliament during the ongoing winter sessions as well. Even citizens across the country also objected the mandate because the government ordered manufacturers to make sure that the app cannot be deleted by the users.

Citing infringement of Right to Privacy and calling it a snooping activity, political leaders and public raised concerns and urged the government to backtrack on this order. 

Even top mobile manufacturers like Apple have reportedly refused to comply with the directive due to privacy and security reasons and informed the same to the ministry. Though there is no news on how remaining players have responded on this edict, it is believed that the mandate could trigger a tiff between the government.