Sanchar Saathi App Row: Centre’s Directive To Smartphone Makers Draws Ire; Why Oppn Terms It A 'Surveillance Moment'

Sanchar Saathi App Row: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked all the smartphone manufacturers to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi app, a government-developed cybersecurity application. Defending the mandate, the Centre said the move is crucial to counter duplicate and spoofed IMEI numbers that pose a "serious national security risk".

The DoT order provides 90 days to the smartphone manufacturers to ensure Sanchar Saathi is pre-installed in the new phones. The app must remain visible, active and cannot be removed by users. The instruction, sent to all major smartphone manufacturers and importers also asks companies to release software updates to ensure the app reaches devices already sold in the country. 

One of the world's largest telephone markets, India has over 1.2 billion subscribers of the application, and according to government figures, the app launched has helped recover more than 7,00,000 lost phones, including 50,000 in October alone. 

What Is Sanchar Saathi App 

Launched in 2023, the Sanchar Saathi app helps users track and block stolen or lost mobile phones using the device’s IMEI number. It also allows people to report fraudulent calls, SMS and suspicious online communication. Industry executives said smartphone firms are likely to raise concerns, as this policy directly affects companies such as Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo.

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Opposition Reacts

Opposition parties have expressed their dissatisfaction over the Centre’s move, terming it an effort to launch surveillance.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the permanent mobile feature was a "BIG BOSS surveillance moment". She added that the move will be “protested and opposed”.

“Sanchar Saathi mobile Application mandate to every mobile phone manufacturer as a permanent mobile feature by the GoI is nothing but another BIG BOSS surveillance moment. Such shady ways to get into individual phones will be protested and opposed & if the IT Ministry thinks that instead of creating robust redressal systems it will create surveillance systems then it should be ready for a pushback,” Priyanka Chaturvedi posted on X.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal also came down heavily on the directive, terming it "beyond unconstitutional".

“Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT Direction is beyond unconstitutional. The Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and liberty, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution. A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a dystopian tool to monitor every Indian. It is a means to watch over every movement, interaction and decision of each citizen. This is part of the long series of relentless assaults on the Constitutional Rights of Indian citizens and will not be allowed to continue. We reject this Direction and demand an immediate rollback,” KC Venugopal posted on X.

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Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla called the mandate a "blatant assault on our privacy and freedom".

“Outrageous! Wake up INDIA! The Govt's Sanchar Saathi app mandate is a blatant assault on our privacy & freedom! By forcing it pre-installed on every new phone, not allowing us to uninstall the aap, all under the guise of 'safety', the government will potentially have the power to spy on our calls, texts & location. This is surveillance at its worst, & the government will have the power to track us like criminals! We need to fight this. Btw: These are the permissions that will be required for the Sanchar Saathi App,” Tehseen Poonawalla posted on X.

Countering the surveillance claims, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said Opposition was using the issues as a weapon to stall the Parliament.

"They dont need to dig out issues. A list of businesses has been prepared, and there are many issues. We will have a debate on the issues raised by the opposition as well and think about how we need to move ahead. They dont need to find new issues and disturb the Parliament. All issues are important in their own place, but if you use these issues as a weapon to stall the Parliament, it is not right... We will hold talks with opposition leaders. I am in touch with them already... We are not belittling their issues, but there are many issues in the country, not just one," he told the media outside the Parliament.