The Centre on Wednesday rejected allegations that the Sanchar Saathi app enables snooping, with Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stating in Parliament that such surveillance is “not possible.”
During a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha, Scindia explained that the app has no capability to access personal calls, messages, or data, and its purpose is limited to helping citizens track lost phones, identify fraudulent SIMs, and prevent telecom fraud.
The controversy began after the DoT issued an order mandating pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones and pushing it to existing phones via software updates. This led to widespread criticism from privacy experts and opposition leaders, who argued that a mandatory installation could compromise user privacy.
Responding to these concerns, the government withdrew the mandatory installation directive, ensuring the app remains 100% voluntary. Users can install it if they want, and they can delete it anytime without affecting phone functionality.
Even though the government defended the app as a safety tool, some privacy advocates insist that transparency and safeguards must be strengthened to prevent any potential misuse. The debate highlights the growing tension between digital security measures and privacy rights in India.
