After facing a massive backlash for mandating the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on mobile phones intended for use in India, the government on Wednesday walked back its directions to phone manufacturers and importers. In an official statement, the Ministry of Communications said, “Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, the Government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers."
"An infringement on fundamental right to privacy"
The reversal caps a turbulent episode that came after many called out the mandate order as an infringement on a citizen's fundamental right to privacy. While speaking in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified over snooping intent, saying “Snooping is neither possible, nor will it ever be.
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Why did Centre scrap the app's pre-installation mandate?
The official press release issued on Monday stated that the DoT has issued directives on November 28 mandating the manufacturers and importers of mobile handsets to pre-install the app on those intended for use in India to tackle rising cybercrime cases. The government's order for smartphone manufacturers, however, drew huge backlash from the Opposition leaders, cybersecurity experts, and privacy advocates.
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Non-compliance by Apple, Samsung
This controversial move to push the app to all new phones and add it to old phones via a software update sparked widespread chaos. Sources close to the matter told HT that the DoT was under "too much pressure" from the industry to recall the order. Citing sources, Reuters further reported that tech giants Apple and Samsung had also refused to comply with the Centre's order to pre-install the app. The government later clarified that Sanchar Saathi can be deleted from the phone if a user wants, but concerns prevailed.
What is Sanchar Saathi app?
Sanchar Saathi mobile app, described as a citizen-centric initiative by DOT to empower mobile subscribers, was launched earlier this year. It is a mobile security platform and application that allows users to:
- Block lost or stolen phones across all networks
- Verify IMEI authenticity and check if a phone is genuine
- See the number of mobile numbers linked to their ID
- Report suspicious calls or communication
- Help police track stolen devices
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