Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 3: The central government on Wednesday withdrew its directive mandating that all mobile phones sold in India come pre-installed with the Sanchar Saathi app, following widespread criticism from opposition parties, civil society, and privacy experts.
The communications ministry, in a press release, stated: “Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, the Government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers.”
Union Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told the Lok Sabha that the government is open to amending directives if genuine issues are flagged. The original order, issued on November 28, implied that the app could not be removed or disabled, sparking immediate concerns about mass digital surveillance. The government later clarified that users could delete the app, but critics said this did not fully mitigate privacy risks.
DoT secretary Neeraj Mittal explained that the mandate was withdrawn because the app’s popularity had increased organically. “Just in one day, 600,000 citizens registered for downloading the app, a tenfold increase in uptake. This is an affirmation of faith by citizens on this app for protecting themselves, provided by the government,” he said.
An official familiar with the matter acknowledged that the department faced “too much pressure” from the public and industry, adding that legal advice suggested the directive might not hold up constitutionally. Scindia reiterated in the Lok Sabha that the app does not access personal data and cannot be used for snooping; it is designed solely to simplify access to fraud-prevention tools.
Opposition criticism and privacy concerns
Even before the withdrawal, the directive drew sharp criticism from the Congress, AAP, and CPI(M), who described it as authoritarian, intrusive, and a threat to citizens’ privacy.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge said: “Violating people’s rights, controlling them, spying on them and conducting surveillance are distinctive features of the BJP’s authoritarian governance. Without taking citizens or stakeholders into confidence, the Modi government has unilaterally forced this app upon people. These directives resemble autocracy. Why does the government want to know what citizens discuss with their families and friends?”
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called the app a “spy app”, adding, “If the government begins monitoring everything, where will citizens’ privacy remain?”
Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor emphasised that such apps should be voluntary: “Those who need them may download them. Making everything mandatory becomes troublesome. The government must directly brief the public and explain the rationale behind this decision,” he said.
Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala questioned whether mandatory installation risks turning India into a surveillance state: “Will every mobile become an official version of Pegasus or North Korea’s ‘Red Flag’? Are privacy and personal rights dead?”
K C Venugopal added that privacy is integral to the fundamental right to life and liberty and must be safeguarded.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal called the move a “shameful attack on personal freedom, privacy and liberty”, while CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas noted that even if deletable, mandatory pre-installation could make mobiles tools for continuous surveillance: “Elderly users and those with limited digital literacy may not be able to remove it, leaving it permanently active. This raises risks of privacy breaches and data leaks.”
Government perspective and user adoption
The government highlighted that 14 million users have downloaded the app, reporting roughly 2,000 fraud incidents daily. Officials said the mandate was initially intended to accelerate adoption and ensure the app reached citizens less aware of its existence, particularly for its fraud-prevention features.
Digital rights advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation called the withdrawal “a welcome development”, while urging caution until the formal legal order and any revised directives under the Cyber Security Rules, 2024, are published.
The episode underscores the delicate balance between promoting digital safety and respecting privacy, with the government now seeking to maintain uptake through voluntary adoption rather than compulsory installation.