Government assures citizens that the Sanchar Saathi app ensures security, not surveillance
On 3 December 2025, the Centre addressed growing concerns in Parliament regarding the Sanchar Saathi app, which had sparked a nationwide debate over digital privacy and state surveillance. Critics had raised alarms claiming the app could be used for mass snooping on Indian citizens.
The app, developed as a state initiative to enhance telecom security, provides functionalities to help users report fraudulent calls and SMS, verify mobile ownership, and block stolen devices. Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia reassured lawmakers and citizens, stating clearly that “Snooping is neither possible nor will happen with the Sanchar Saathi safety app.” This clarification comes amid intense scrutiny from opposition leaders, privacy advocates, and digital rights activists.
Purpose of the Sanchar Saathi App
The Sanchar Saathi app is designed with the following objectives in mind:
- Fraud prevention: Provides tools for users to report and block suspicious calls or messages.
- Device security: Helps in tracking, blocking, or securing lost and stolen smartphones.
- Verification: Allows users to check IMEI numbers and ensure mobile ownership is legitimate.
- Consumer protection: Offers a safer telecom experience by alerting users to possible scams and illegal activities.
The government emphasized that the app is optional, and users have full control to delete or disable it at any time. The pre-installation requirement aims solely to make the app available to all users without forcing usage.
Supporters’ Perspective: Sanchar Saathi app
Supporters of the app, including members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), argue that:
- The app cannot access private messages or record calls, ensuring users’ privacy.
- It provides an important tool to prevent telecom fraud, illegal SIM card usage, and stolen phone-related crimes.
- Pre-installation ensures that users who need the app for security purposes have access to it from the start, while deletion options preserve personal choice.
- The app helps create a safer and more accountable telecom ecosystem for all users in India.
Critics’ Concerns: Sanchar Saathi app
Opposition parties, privacy advocates, and digital rights organizations have expressed concerns that:
- Mandatory pre-installation could constitute government overreach and reduce user autonomy.
- Even with deletion options, there is no complete assurance that background permissions are fully removed or that no data could be accessed.
- The move sets a potential precedent for state surveillance, raising fears that more mandatory apps could follow, affecting citizens’ digital freedom.
- Critics argue that privacy should be prioritized alongside security, and technological solutions should include transparent audits and safeguards to maintain trust.
Broader Implications: Sanchar Saathi app
The Sanchar Saathi debate exemplifies the ongoing struggle to balance digital security, consumer protection, and privacy in India. Key considerations include:
- Security and fraud prevention: Protecting citizens from telecom scams, identity theft, and unauthorized use of mobile devices.
- Privacy and individual rights: Ensuring that government interventions do not compromise personal freedoms or infringe on constitutional protections.
- Trust in governance: Transparent communication, clear policies, and independent oversight are critical to maintaining public trust in state digital initiatives.
What to Watch Next
- Independent audits by privacy and digital rights groups to verify app permissions and functionality.
- Compliance by smartphone manufacturers, with possible resistance or negotiations on pre-installation requirements.
- Adoption rates among citizens and whether public trust leads to active usage or mass deletion of the app.
- The influence of this controversy on future policymaking regarding digital regulation, consent, and privacy protection in India.
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Author: Team BTP
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