Mandatory Sanchar Saathi Installation riggers Privacy Concerns Amid Push for Stronger Smartphone Cybersecurity Protections

The government’s recent order on Sanchar Saathi has pushed India’s digital security debate into the spotlight. Before addressing the controversy, it is important to understand what this platform actually does and why it was created.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) developed Sanchar Saathi, a digital platform that helps mobile users manage their digital identities, protect their devices, and avoid telecom fraud. It offers a variety of solutions to manage phone-related threats and functions as both an app and a web portal. This platform makes it simpler for regular users to report problems and protect their mobile identification by combining functionalities that were previously dispersed across various portals and government systems.

One of the most useful tools inside Sanchar Saathi is Chakshu, which lets people report scam calls, fake KYC messages, phishing links and suspicious WhatsApp texts. These alerts help authorities track fraud patterns. Users can also report spam calls that violate TRAI rules, check every mobile number registered in their name, block a lost or stolen phone’s IMEI, and verify whether a device is genuine. The platform even supports reporting illegal international calls that appear as Indian numbers. For people buying second-hand phones or dealing with unknown telecom activity, these features add a strong layer of protection.

The government says Sanchar Saathi has already produced noticeable results. With over 1.2 billion mobile users in the country, mobile theft, fake SIM cards and online fraud remain serious concerns. According to official data, the system has helped recover more than 7 lakh lost or stolen phones, including 50,000 in a single month. Because smartphones have become central to digital payments, verification and communication, tools like Sanchar Saathi aim to reduce the increasing risks of identity misuse and telecom fraud.

However, the matter got contentious when the government ordered all smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and others, to pre-install Sanchar Saathi on all new models. The original instruction also said that users should not be able to remove or turn off the app. Phone companies were granted 90 days to comply.

This mandatory requirement immediately sparked reactions across the technology ecosystem. Smartphone makers raised concerns about forced pre-installation, especially since companies like Apple have strict rules against undeletable third-party apps. Digital rights groups argued that compulsory apps could affect user privacy and weaken control over personal devices. The public backlash grew so quickly that Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia later clarified that the app is optional, can be deleted, and will not be forced on users.

The issue surrounding this directive is about trust more than app functionality. In India, government apps such as Aarogya Setu and DigiLocker have grown commonplace, so a new cybersecurity app is not surprising. The issue occurred because the initial directive referenced "non-removability" and "unrestricted functionality," which many interpreted as an increase of state control over personal smartphones. People in a country where phones are used for banking, communication, and political expression are cautious of anything that suggests surveillance or forced access.

Experts also noted that, while Sanchar Saathi required specific rights to report fraud, such as call logs or SMS information, these permissions may become problematic if the app were permanently placed in devices without user authorisation. Even though the government claims that data is utilised securely and only when activated by the user, citizens are concerned about how such technologies will evolve in the future if not adequately regulated.

Sanchar Saathi fills important gaps in India’s fight against telecom fraud and cybercrime, and its usefulness is widely acknowledged. But usefulness alone cannot justify compulsory installation. As digital governance expands, voluntary adoption builds confidence, while forced measures create suspicion. By stepping back from making the app mandatory, the government has recognised the need to maintain trust, something essential for all future digital security initiatives.