Government Reverses Mandate on Pre-Installed Sanchar Saathi App Amid Privacy Concerns

The Indian government has withdrawn its earlier directive to mandate the Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones, following privacy concerns, opposition criticism, and industry pushback. The app, designed to strengthen cybersecurity and help citizens report online fraud, will now no longer be pre-installed by default; users can choose to download it voluntarily.

Background of the Sanchar Saathi App

The Sanchar Saathi app was introduced to protect users from online scams and fraud. The government’s initial plan required all smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung and Apple, to pre-install the app on every new device. Authorities argued that it would make reporting cybercrime easier and enhance overall digital safety.

Opposition and Industry Pushback

The move faced significant resistance:

• Opposition parties claimed that mandatory pre-installation could infringe on user privacy and equated the app to a “snooping tool.” They argued the decision was rushed and lacked public consultation or industry input.

• Apple refused to comply, citing its strict privacy policies, and stated that it would not follow such a mandate in any market globally.

Growing Popularity of the App

Despite the controversy, the app has seen rapid adoption among users. According to a PIB release:

• 14 million users have downloaded the app so far.

• Approximately 2,000 cyber fraud cases are reported daily through the app.

• In the past day alone, 600,000 downloads were recorded, a tenfold increase compared to previous days.

The government noted this growing popularity as a key reason to make pre-installation optional rather than mandatory.

What This Means for Users

Now, new smartphones will no longer come with Sanchar Saathi pre-installed. Users can freely choose to download the app from official app stores if they wish. The government emphasizes that the app continues to provide a valuable tool for cyber fraud reporting and digital security, but installation will remain at the user’s discretion.