Government Rolls Back Mandatory Pre-Installation of Sanchar Saathi App

The Indian government on Wednesday withdrew its order requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on devices sold in the country. The move follows concerns raised by opposition parties and civil society activists over potential privacy violations and fears of state surveillance.

Reason for Rollback

According to the government, the decision was made because public adoption of the app has been rapid, with over 6 lakh downloads in 24 hours and 1.4 crore users overall. The pre-installation mandate was intended to accelerate access to the app, but now citizens can download or delete it at will.

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasized in Parliament that “snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi app” and highlighted that every user has the right to remove the app.

Public Concerns

The directive had sparked protests from opposition MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Karti Chidambaram, who described it as a threat to privacy, likening it to surveillance measures seen in countries like Russia and North Korea. Civil society activists criticized the app’s extensive permissions and the inability to uninstall it initially.

About Sanchar Saathi

Developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the app is a cybersecurity and awareness platform designed to help users manage digital identities, report suspicious activity, safeguard devices, and provide educational material on telecom safety and cyber risks. It is available on both Android and iOS, as well as through a web portal.

The government clarified that the rollback responds to public feedback, while the app continues to be available for citizens who wish to use it voluntarily.