The Sanchar Saathi App Mandatory Pre-Installation Order Revoked Privacy U-Turn is confirmed. Fierce digital rights opposition and Big Tech pushback forced the DoT to withdraw the controversial directive, easing fears of mass state surveillance and respecting consumer consent.
Sanchar Saathi App Mandatory Pre-Installation Order Revoked Privacy U-Turn
In a massive, high-profile Government U-turn, the Ministry of Communications has officially revoked its controversial directive mandating the pre-installation of the state-owned Sanchar Saathi on all smartphones manufactured or imported for use in India. The decision comes just days after the order was issued, following a fierce wave of political outcry, public resistance fueled by surveillance fears, and strong, silent pushback from global Big Tech giants like Apple and Google. This reversal is being hailed by digital rights activists as a significant privacy victory for the Indian consumer.
The original order, issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the new Telecommunications Cyber Security Rules, required manufacturers to preload the app onto every new device within 90 days. While the government maintained that the app was a secure, citizen-centric tool designed purely for cyber-security, combating IMEI tampering, and tracing lost/stolen phones, the compulsory nature of the installation immediately triggered widespread alarms. Critics argued that mandating a state-owned app fundamentally undermines the concept of consumer consent and constitutes an “Orwellian intrusion,” paving the way for potential mass state surveillance under the guise of security.
The intensity of the backlash was multi-layered. Firstly, digital rights advocates argued that forcing the app onto devices compromises the user’s digital autonomy and potentially infringes upon the constitutional right to privacy, especially as the original directive vaguely stated that the app’s functionalities “should not be disabled or restricted.” Secondly, the political controversy deepened, with opposition leaders comparing the Sanchar Saathi initiative to the infamous Pegasus spyware scandal, accusing the government of attempting to normalize unwarranted monitoring.
Crucially, the directive faced a major roadblock from global smartphone leaders. Companies like Apple and Google reportedly signaled their intent to push back against the mandate. Preloading a state-owned app is unprecedented in global markets and presented significant compliance and security headaches for their operating systems (iOS and Android). The threat of Big Tech non-compliance, which could have destabilized the world’s second-largest smartphone market, placed immense pressure on the government to reconsider its position.
