DoT Withdraws Mandatory Pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi App Amid Digital-Rights Concerns
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure | SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
Institutions: Ministry of Communications | Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has withdrawn its earlier directive requiring mobile manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones. The Ministry stated that the app—designed to help citizens report fraud, protect against cybercriminals, and support “jan-bhagidari” in cyber safety—has already seen rising voluntary adoption, with 1.4 crore downloads and user contributions to around 2,000 fraud reports daily. According to DoT, nearly 6 lakh users registered in a single day, marking a ten-fold surge in uptake following wider public awareness.
The Ministry reiterated that Sanchar Saathi is “secure,” performs no functions beyond user protection, and can be deleted at any time. High voluntary uptake, DoT said, made it unnecessary to maintain the mandatory pre-installation requirement—originally intended to help “less-aware citizens” access cyber-safety features more easily.
The withdrawal also comes amid concerns from digital-rights groups, privacy researchers and industry bodies, who argued that mandatory pre-loading of a government app could erode user trust, expand state access on personal devices and set a precedent for future compulsory installations. Stakeholders flagged risks of function creep, unclear data-governance safeguards and the lack of an independent security audit. Industry associations added that device-level mandates could complicate certification processes and increase compliance burdens. Many suggested that opt-in adoption, awareness campaigns and stronger digital-literacy efforts would better balance cybersecurity goals with user autonomy.
Policy Relevance:
The withdrawal reflects a broader balancing act between cybersecurity imperatives and digital-rights safeguards. While Sanchar Saathi’s growing uptake highlights public demand for anti-fraud tools, the episode underscores the need for clear norms on government-developed apps, voluntary adoption frameworks, privacy-by-design safeguards and industry-aligned compliance pathways. For policymakers, the outcome signals the importance of user trust, transparent data practices, interoperable digital-security frameworks and strong oversight mechanisms as India expands its cyber-safety architecture.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
What regulatory principles should guide future decisions on device-level digital mandates so that cybersecurity needs do not conflict with privacy norms and market neutrality?
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