'Mandatory' Sanchar Saathi App

Lifestyle

'Mandatory' Sanchar Saathi App blinks horror eyes and snooping fear invite chaos

An App brought by 'protector' for defense of wide range of people however has blinked it's horror eyes in air frightening the citizens apprehensive of loosing privacy and scratch to their fundamental rights across the country.

The Telecom Ministry has issued a directive requiring every smartphone manufacturer, whether Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, or others, to pre-install the government's Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity App on all new devices.

The cellular phone manufacturer companies have been given just 90 days to comply, and the order also specifies that users should not be able to remove or disable the App.

All phones must have the app pre-installed before sale, while those already sold should have it installed through software updates. The Indian government denied any privacy implications, stating that Sanchar Saathi “does not automatically capture any specific personal information from you without intimation."

Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has issued a clarification on the Sanchar Saathi app. The minister said that the cybersecurity app is not mandatory for users. "The app is completely optional. If you want to delete it, you can. If you don't wish to register, you shouldn’t register and can remove it anytime," Scindia told reporters outside the Parliament today.

The telecom minister added that the App does not enable snooping or call monitoring. "But not everyone in the country knows that this app exists to protect them from fraud and theft," Scindia said.

Global high-segment user Apple, as was learnt, is among the big tech companies that is reportedly refusing to comply with the edict, while other large tech companies have yet to respond publicly.

The App, described as a citizen-centric safety tool, allows users to block and track lost or stolen mobile phones and check how many mobile connections are registered under their name, helping to identify and disconnect fraudulent numbers used in scams.

It also helps report suspected fraudulent calls and verify the authenticity of used devices – particularly to check they aren’t stolen – before buying.

Sanchar Sathi is a security and awareness platform developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It is available both as an app and a web portal, and its purpose is to help mobile users manage their digital identity, report suspicious activity, and safeguard their devices.