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India has abandoned its plan to mandate preinstallation of the Sanchar Saathi government app on smartphones due to public backlash and privacy concerns. The telecom ministry clarified the app will remain optional for manufacturers, reversing a previous directive that required it to be baked into all devices. Critics argued the policy risked expanding state surveillance capabilities and undermining user privacy protections. Despite the reversal, formal instructions for manufacturers are still pending, leaving uncertainty about implementation. The app, which tracks cyber fraud, has gained significant traction with over 14 million downloads since its 2025 launch.
Key facts
- India’s telecom ministry revoked the mandate requiring smartphone manufacturers to preinstall Sanchar Saathi.
- The government app, designed for anti-theft and cybersecurity, has accumulated 14 million downloads since January 2025.
- Manufacturers await official notifications to confirm the policy change, despite the ministry’s public reversal.
- Privacy advocates warned the original mandate could enable excessive state access to user devices.
- Sanchar Saathi’s user base grew rapidly, with 600,000 new registrations on December 2 alone.
TAGS:
#cybersecurity #digital rights #government app #India #privacy concerns #Sanchar Saathi #smartphone mandate #Tech policy #telecom ministry #user privacy
