Tue Dec 02 06:29:47 UTC 2025: Summary:
The Indian government’s recent mandate requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app has sparked controversy. Opposition leaders and digital rights activists are criticizing the move, arguing it infringes on privacy and could be used for mass surveillance. The Sanchar Saathi app, initially launched to combat fraudulent phone calls, now includes features like IMEI verification and phone blocking. Critics worry that pre-installation, likely without the option to uninstall, could grant the government excessive access and potential for misuse through malware or spyware. This move follows a recent order restricting WhatsApp and similar platforms, all under the amended Telecom Cyber Security Rules, signaling a broader expansion of the Department of Telecommunications’ regulatory reach.
News Article:
Government Mandate for Sanchar Saathi App on Smartphones Sparks Privacy Concerns
NEW DELHI, December 2, 2025 – A new directive from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) mandating that all smartphone manufacturers pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app has ignited a firestorm of criticism from opposition parties and digital rights advocates. The order, issued Monday, December 1st, 2025, has been labeled an overreach and a potential tool for mass surveillance.
“This is nothing but another BIG BOSS surveillance moment,” stated Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi from the Shiv Sena (UBT). Congress leader K.C. Venugopal echoed these concerns, describing the app as a “dystopian tool to monitor every Indian” and deeming the mandate “beyond constitutional.”
The Sanchar Saathi app, originally launched in 2023 as a website to report fraudulent phone calls, integrates features allowing users to verify IMEI numbers and block stolen phones. The primary concern stems from the fact that the pre-installation mandate will likely prevent users from uninstalling the app, similar to pre-loaded bloatware from private companies.
Critics fear the potential for such a pre-installed app to be exploited for malicious purposes. Anand Venkatanarayanan, co-founder of DeepStrat, a policy and cybersecurity consultancy, warned on X, stating that this could turn the “[r]egulator as a Malware operator.” He elaborated that root access, typically granted to pre-installed apps, would allow the government to potentially push updates and gain additional permissions without user consent.
This mandate follows a recent DoT order restricting WhatsApp and similar platforms to registered SIM devices and implementing time limits on web access, both under the recently amended Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024. These rules allow the DoT to target a wide range of companies using mobile numbers for user identification, expanding its regulatory purview beyond traditional telecom operators. The combined actions raise serious questions about the government’s increasing control over digital communication and the potential impact on user privacy in India.
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