On Tuesday, the Central government’s order directing all mobile phone manufacturers and importers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on every handset sold in India within 90 days sparked sharp criticism from Opposition parties.
The Opposition accused the government of paving the way for “state surveillance”, leading to noisy protests in Parliament and demands for immediate clarification from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
What the Sanchar Saathi app does
Sanchar Saathi is a cybersecurity application designed to help users verify their phone’s IMEI number, report misuse, and track lost or stolen devices.
Officials say the app is crucial for combating duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which are frequently used in telecom scams and pose a significant threat to network security.
Opposition flags privacy and snooping concerns
Several Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, criticised the directive, calling the app a violation of citizens’ privacy.
She said people “must have the right to communicate without the government looking at everything,” arguing that pre-installation could enable covert surveillance.
Government dismisses allegations, offers clarification
Union communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia rejected the snooping allegations, clarifying that downloading or activating the app is not mandatory.
He emphasised that users are free to delete it and that the government’s focus is solely on enhancing digital safety. Confusion over the directive’s phrasing, he added, had led to unnecessary alarm.
Government highlights benefits of the app
Sharing its impact, Scindia said over 20 crore people have used the Sanchar Saathi portal so far. The app has helped disconnect 1.43 crore fraudulent mobile connections and trace 26 lakh lost phones, with more than 7.23 lakh devices successfully returned to their owners.
