India’s Mandatory Sanchar Saathi App Order Triggers Privacy and Political Uproar
India’s directive requiring smartphone makers to preload a state-run cyber safety app on all new devices has sparked a fierce national debate over privacy, surveillance, and digital freedom. The move, affecting major brands such as Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, mandates the installation of the Sanchar Saathi (“Communication Partner”) app within 90 days, raising concerns among companies and citizens alike.
What the Sanchar Saathi App Does
Promoted by the government as a “citizen-centric safety tool,” Sanchar Saathi allows users to track and block lost or stolen phones through their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number — the unique identifier for each device. It also lets users check how many mobile connections are registered under their name, helping identify fraudulent numbers often used in scams.
The app offers tools to report suspected scam calls and verify the authenticity of second-hand phones before purchase. According to official data, it has already been downloaded over 10 million times, helping block 4.2 million stolen or lost devices and terminate 30 million fraudulent connections.
The New Mandate and Its Reach
On 28 November, India’s telecom ministry privately instructed all smartphone manufacturers to preload Sanchar Saathi on every new device. The app must be visible, functional, and active upon setup, and companies must prevent users from disabling or restricting its features.
For existing phones already in the supply chain, companies are required to install the app via software updates — potentially reaching over 735 million users across the country. The government says the measure is essential to combat “serious endangerment” of telecom security due to IMEI cloning and fraud.
However, industry insiders told Reuters that smartphone makers were not consulted before the directive. Apple, in particular, is reportedly concerned that the order could undermine its strict privacy protocols, which prohibit pre-installed third-party apps that could access sensitive user data.
Privacy Concerns and Political Backlash
The app’s privacy policy notes that while it does not automatically collect personal information, users must grant several permissions — including access to cameras, photos, files, call logs, and messages. Critics argue that such permissions could create opportunities for state surveillance, especially if users cannot disable the app.
Opposition parties and digital rights advocates have condemned the directive. The Congress Party has demanded an immediate rollback, calling the order unconstitutional. The Internet Freedom Foundation, a prominent digital rights group, vowed on X (formerly Twitter) to “fight this direction till it is rescinded.”
Public debate has intensified, with television debates and social media discussions framing the issue as a clash between digital security and individual privacy. While the government maintains that the app is vital to protect citizens from cybercrime, privacy advocates warn that the policy risks expanding state control over personal devices.
Balancing Security and Privacy
India’s telecom ministry defends the app as a security tool, saying criminals often clone or spoof IMEI numbers on stolen phones, making it difficult to track offenders. It argues that the measure will protect users and reduce the sale of blacklisted or stolen devices in India’s vast second-hand phone market.
Yet, as global and local tech firms assess the order’s implications, India faces growing pressure to strike a balance between ensuring cybersecurity and upholding citizens’ digital rights — a debate likely to continue as the 90-day deadline approaches.
with inputs from Reuters