The Centre has withdrawn its directive requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices.
The move comes after widespread concerns over privacy, surveillance, and constitutional validity, prompting the government to rethink the mandate.
Public Backlash Over Mandatory Installation
The Sanchar Saathi app was introduced as a cybersecurity tool to help users track stolen phones and report fraudulent mobile connections.
However, the government’s order to make it mandatory sparked criticism.
Opposition leaders, civil society groups, and digital rights advocates argued that forcing an undeletable government app onto citizens’ phones violated privacy and could enable surveillance.
Government Clarifies the App Is Optional
Addressing the Lok Sabha, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the app was never meant to be mandatory.
He confirmed that users can freely delete it and denied any snooping concerns.
The app works only with voluntary registration.
It does not activate automatically.
No data is collected without explicit consent.
Scindia emphasized that Sanchar Saathi is a citizen-focused safety platform for combating fake mobile connections, fraud IMEI numbers, stolen phones, and cybercrime.
Centre Open to Improving the Platform
The government is open to revising guidelines based on public feedback.
The Department of Telecommunications aims to enhance the platform to increase user trust and transparency.
The app has already seen 1.4 crore downloads, reflecting growing awareness about telecom fraud.
In just 24 hours, over 6 lakh new users registered, signaling strong citizen interest in the platform. Users, however, remain free to uninstall the app anytime.
Moving Forward: Balancing Safety and Privacy
With the mandatory installation rule withdrawn, public controversy is expected to ease.
However, the wider discussion on data privacy, digital rights, and government intervention in personal devices continues.
The Centre insists that Sanchar Saathi is “of the people, for the people”, and its future will depend on transparency, safeguards, and continued public trust.
