Sanchar Saathi App: The Controversy Explained

On November 28, India's Department of Telecommunications released a directive: every smartphone built or brought into the country must come with the Sanchar Saathi app already installed. The order covers all device makers and importers supplying devices to the Indian market. Phones that are already produced or currently in use will also need the app, which must be added using software updates. Companies have been given 90 days to push the update and a total of 120 days to file documents confirming they’ve met the directive. The most concerning detail is that, according to the formal notification, users will have no option to delete, restrict or disable the app.

Opposition parties, led by the Congress, are raising serious concerns, viewing this move as a breach of privacy and an attempt towards government surveillance. They are demanding that this directive be withdrawn immediately. Facing mounting political and public concern, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified to the media that the Sanchar Saathi app would be “optional” for users. Speaking to the press outside Parliament on December 2, the minister emphasised that the app is not compulsory, adding that users can keep it inactive, choose not to register, or remove it altogether if they prefer.

While Scindia maintained that the app would be optional, the government’s own directive on the Press Information Bureau website appears to make compliance mandatory. According to point 7(b) of the order, the Sanchar Saathi app must be pre-installed in a way that is clearly visible and accessible to users from the moment the device is first set up, and none of its functions can be disabled or restricted.

So, what is the Sanchar Saathi app? Launched in 2023, it is a mobile security platform designed to help users protect their devices and personal information. The app allows people to block lost or stolen phones across networks, verify if a device’s IMEI is genuine, check how many mobile numbers are linked to their ID, report suspicious calls, and assist the police in tracking stolen devices. The app has reportedly triggered privacy worries because it can access call records, messages, the camera, and various phone settings, including network information. Apple is said to be resisting the order. Industry insiders told Reuters that the company intends to explain to the Indian government that it cannot comply, citing concerns over user privacy and device security.

This marks the first instance of the Indian government ordering a mandatory, government-run app to be built into every smartphone. Such directives are uncommon in democratic systems. A similar example emerged in Russia, where phone makers were told to include the state-run messaging service MAX, a move that raised fears of increased monitoring. Experts say the real concern isn’t just about cracking down on stolen or fake phones. It’s about whether the state should be allowed to step this far into people’s personal devices, all while offering them practically no say in the process.