UJJI NEWS (DEC. 03) : The Union government has stepped back from its earlier directive that required all mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices. Following widespread concerns from experts and industry players over privacy risks and potential government surveillance, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia issued a clarification on Tuesday.
Sanchar Saathi App Not Mandatory
Scindia stated that activating the Sanchar Saathi app is purely optional, and users are free to delete it anytime. He emphasised that the cyber-security application neither monitors calls nor enables surveillance, adding that it only aims to curb digital fraud. The app will function only after a user activates it, he said.
However, experts note a stark contradiction between the minister’s remarks and the official order issued earlier by the Department of Telecommunications. While Scindia says the app can be deleted, the government circular explicitly mentions that the Sanchar Saathi app cannot be disabled or blocked, raising questions about the ministry’s stance.
The DoT’s recent circular, citing Clause 7(b), directed all manufacturers and importers to ensure that every new mobile phone sold in India within the next 90 days comes with the Sanchar Saathi app pre-installed. This inconsistency has triggered debate over which directive—ministerial clarification or official order—should be considered valid.
