Sanchar Saathi – When cybersecurity becomes mandatory — can forcing a government app on every phone erode privacy faster than it prevents fraud?
What’s the New Order
On 28 November 2025, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a directive mandating all smartphone manufacturers and importers in India to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices. Companies have also been asked to push the app via software updates for existing devices.
The directive requires the app to be visible during device setup and prohibits uninstalling it. The government claims the order aims to curb fake IMEIs, fraudulent SIM usage, and enable users to report lost or stolen phones. Officials argue that in a country with over a billion mobile users, such a step is essential to reduce telecom fraud and enhance national cyber security.
What is Sanchar Saathi?
Sanchar Saathi is a government-developed app providing:
- Verification of device authenticity via IMEI, helping users identify fake or counterfeit phones
- Reporting suspicious calls or messages and telecom fraud, including spam and scam activities
- Blocking or reporting lost or stolen phones so they cannot be misused
- Checking all mobile connections registered under a user’s name, helping detect unauthorized SIM cards
The app aims to protect consumers, especially in India’s large second-hand phone market, and streamline government oversight of mobile security.
Why the Pushback
The order has triggered widespread criticism from opposition parties, privacy advocates, tech industry experts, and civil society:
- Opposition leaders argue it violates Article 21 rights to privacy and freedom of choice
- Critics warn it could be misused as a surveillance tool, tracking user activity without consent
- Handset-makers express concerns about compliance burdens, potential damage to consumer trust, and responsibility for maintaining the app
- Privacy experts warn that mandatory government apps set a dangerous precedent for future monitoring and erosion of user autonomy
The debate has sparked heated discussions online and in the media, with privacy watchdogs cautioning that once such a mandate is normalized, it becomes easier to introduce more invasive measures in the future.
Real-World Implications
Potential benefits if implemented responsibly:
- Users can verify handset legitimacy, reducing the resale of stolen or blacklisted phones
- Fraud, spam, and unauthorized SIM misuse may decrease, protecting millions of citizens
- Official channels for reporting lost/stolen phones and suspicious activities could improve consumer protection and safety
Risks and challenges: Sanchar Saathi
- Loss of user autonomy, as mandatory pre-installed apps limit user choice
- Potential privacy compromises if the app collects sensitive data without transparent policies
- Erosion of trust between consumers and handset-makers, especially if technical issues arise
- Sets precedent for more intrusive mandates, potentially leading to government overreach in personal devices
Security vs Privacy Debate: Sanchar Saathi
This controversy highlights the delicate balance between cybersecurity and protecting individual rights. While preventing fraud and securing mobile networks is a legitimate goal, forcing an undeletable government app on all phones raises fundamental questions about digital privacy, consent, and state control. Critics argue that citizens should have the choice to install such apps voluntarily rather than mandatorily.
The move also ignites broader discussions about India’s approach to digital rights, the need for a comprehensive data protection law, and the responsibilities of tech companies in protecting user privacy.
What Happens Next: Sanchar Saathi
Several key factors will determine the trajectory of this policy:
- Will global handset makers, including Apple and Samsung, comply fully, or push back citing user rights?
- Will the government clarify data usage, consent mechanisms, and privacy safeguards?
- Will civil society organizations, privacy advocates, or courts challenge the mandate on constitutional grounds?
- Will the app effectively reduce fraud without infringing on user rights and trust?
The outcome will set a significant precedent for how digital governance and citizen privacy coexist in India’s rapidly growing mobile ecosystem.
Conclusion: Sanchar Saathi
The DoT’s Sanchar Saathi mandate is presented as a tool to protect consumers and curb telecom fraud. However, making it mandatory without consent raises serious privacy, autonomy, and surveillance concerns.
Its implementation and reception will influence India’s digital policy landscape, the balance of power between the state and citizens, and the public’s trust in mobile technology. The Sanchar Saathi debate is not just about one app — it is about defining the future of digital rights and governance in India.
FOR MORE BLOGS – beyondthepunchlines.com
Author: Team BTP
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