In a firm rebuttal to concerns over privacy, the Indian government has categorically stated that the Sanchar Saathi application is not designed for surveillance or snooping on citizens. The clarification came from Union Minister for Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, during a session in Parliament.
Government's Firm Stance on Privacy and Control
Addressing the lawmakers, Scindia emphasized that the app's architecture does not permit any form of unauthorized monitoring. "Neither snooping is possible with the Sanchar Saathi app nor will it ever be," he declared. He framed the initiative as part of the Narendra Modi-led government's commitment to empowering the public with greater control over their own digital security. The minister attributed the platform's success and widespread adoption directly to the trust and active participation of Indian citizens.
Highlighting the government's responsive approach, Scindia noted they are open to refining the policy based on crucial public input. "We are ready to make changes to the order based on the feedback we receive," he stated, adding that authorities are "always ready to make necessary improvements in the rules" from citizen suggestions.
Voluntary Use and the Pre-Installation Directive
In a significant user-centric clarification, the minister explicitly said that smartphone owners have the freedom to remove the application. "If you want to delete it, then delete it," Scindia said. He, however, pointed out that a large section of the population remains unaware that such a tool exists to protect them from fraud and mobile phone theft. "It is our responsibility to make this app reach everyone," he added, explaining the registration process is voluntary and the app remains inactive unless a user chooses to register.
This statement follows the recent directive from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), issued earlier this week. The order mandates that all mobile phones manufactured in India or imported into the country must come with the Sanchar Saathi app pre-installed. This rule will apply to devices produced or imported 90 days after November 28, the date of the order. Mobile phone companies have been given 120 days to report their compliance to the DoT.
The government's stated objective behind this move is twofold: to enhance consumer awareness about cyber security and to curb the menace of phones with duplicate or tampered IMEI numbers, which are often used in illicit activities.
A Tool for Fraud Prevention and Device Safety
Developed under the Telecom Cyber Security framework, the Sanchar Saathi app is available for both Android and iOS users. Its core functionalities allow individuals to verify the authenticity of their device and report suspected fraudulent communications. Scindia explained to PTI that the app is similar to any other consumer application, meant to simplify the process of reporting online fraud and tracing lost or stolen mobile phones.
Echoing this sentiment, Union Minister of State for Communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, reinforced that the app's primary goal is to prevent cyber fraud. He described cyber attacks as increasingly sophisticated and positioned Sanchar Saathi as a critical protective measure. "This is, in my view, this is probably the only way," he remarked regarding effective fraud prevention tools.
Pemmasani also touched upon the pre-installation debate, indicating the government is willing to reconsider that specific aspect of the order, as mentioned by Scindia. He highlighted the app's inclusive design, noting it is being developed in all vernacular languages to ensure wide accessibility. The goal, he said, is to leverage information from educated users to help protect more vulnerable groups like the elderly and the poor.
Providing metrics of its adoption, the MoS claimed the Sanchar Saathi portal has received nearly 20 crore (200 million) website hits, and the application itself has been downloaded by over 1.4 crore (14 million) people, underscoring its growing footprint in India's digital ecosystem.
