Centre Withdraws Mandate for Pre-Installed Sanchar Saathi App Amid Privacy Concerns | India News
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In a significant U-turn, the Indian government has withdrawn its order requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices. The move comes after widespread criticism from privacy advocates, cybersecurity experts, and opposition parties over the app's potential to infringe on citizens' fundamental right to privacy. The Sanchar Saathi portal, launched in May 2023, aimed to help citizens track mobile connections linked to their IDs, report fraud, and locate lost phones. However, the government's decision to mandatorily pre-install the app on all new smartphones sparked a heated debate. According to sources close to the matter, the Department of Telecommunications faced intense pressure from the industry to recall the order, citing concerns over the app's effectiveness in preventing cybercrime. The government had also informally consulted with legal firms, who advised that the directive would not hold up constitutionally. Furthermore, tech giants Apple and Samsung had refused to comply with the government's order, further complicating the situation. The Centre's decision to withdraw the mandate comes as a relief to privacy advocates, who had expressed concerns over the app's potential to be used as a 'snooping tool' for the government. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia defended the app, stating that it does not access personal user data and cannot be used for 'snooping'. Despite the government's assurances, the controversy surrounding the Sanchar Saathi app has raised important questions about the balance between national security and individual privacy in India.
