Congress Slams Sanchar Saathi App, Calls it a Threat to Citizens' Privacy
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The Congress party has expressed strong opposition to the government's proposed Sanchar Saathi mobile application, accusing the Centre of attempting to create a surveillance state by invading citizens' private lives. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that the move would allow authorities to access sensitive personal information, including financial transactions, photographs, and private messages. According to the Congress, the government's plan to pre-load the app on every Indian smartphone would give authorities unrestricted access to citizens' data. However, DoT officials have clarified that the app only accesses limited data with explicit user consent, such as basic permissions for registration and optional advanced permissions for features like handset verification or reporting fraud. The controversy surrounding the app stems from clause 7(b) of the November 28 directive, which requires manufacturers to ensure that the app's functionalities are not disabled or restricted. However, DoT officials have clarified that this applies only to manufacturers and does not prevent users from uninstalling the app. The Congress has questioned the need for such access and has accused the government of seeking to intrude into citizens' lives. The party has called for greater transparency and accountability in the government's handling of citizens' data.
