Government Revokes Mandatory Installation of Cybersecurity App on Smartphones
Government Decision on Cybersecurity App
On Wednesday, the central government announced the cancellation of the requirement for the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app to be pre-installed on smartphones sold in the country. This decision emerged amid ongoing discussions in Parliament regarding privacy concerns associated with the app. Previously, a government directive mandated that phone manufacturers install the app on their devices and update older phones.
Related Reading: Government Clarifies on Sanchar Saathi App: Citizens' Safety is the Top Priority, Removal or Use is Your Choice
Numerous opposition members criticized this move, arguing that it could lead to increased government surveillance and intrusion into personal communications. According to the government, the app is designed to protect users from cyber fraud, assist in reporting malicious activities, and enhance public participation in combating cybercrime.
Related Reading: Ravi Shankar Prasad Defends Sanchar Saathi App: It's a Security Shield, Opposition is Unnecessarily Creating a Ruckus
The statement revealed that in just one day, six hundred thousand citizens registered to download the app, marking a tenfold increase in its usage. Given the rising popularity of the Sanchar Saathi app, the government decided against making its pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers. The telecommunications department had previously instructed smartphone makers to pre-install the app on all new devices and update it on older models, which sparked controversy. Opposition leaders expressed concerns about potential spying, claiming that the app could listen to calls and monitor messages.
Government removes mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi App
— PIB India (@PIB_India) December 3, 2025
The Government with an intent to provide access to cyber security to all citizens had mandated pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones. The app is secure and purely meant to help citizens from…