The Sanchar Saathi Snooping App Privacy Debate rages in Parliament as the BJP dismisses Opposition fears of surveillance. Minister Scindia clarifies the mobile app is optional and can be uninstalled, defending the system as vital for mobile security and combating IMEI fraud in India.
Sanchar Saathi Snooping App Privacy Debate
The government’s recent directive mandating the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi application on new mobile handsets has detonated into a ferocious political confrontation, culminating in a critical clarification from the Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia. Amid allegations from the Opposition that the software is a sophisticated “snooping app.
The controversy centers on the high-stakes trade-off between national mobile security and individual digital rights. The digital tool was initially promoted as a crucial mechanism for curbing telecom misuse, allowing users to verify IMEI numbers, block stolen phones, and report fraudulent connections. However, the initial confidential DoT order, which reportedly mandated the software be non-removable, ignited a firestorm. Leaders like Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K.C. Venugopal launched aggressive attacks, framing the pre-installation as an unprecedented intrusion into the Right to Privacy, enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution. They argued that embedding a state-backed platform with deep access permissions risked creating a permanent surveillance infrastructure.
