Bold summary: India reversed a controversial plan to pre-install a state-run cyber safety app on new smartphones, citing public backlash and privacy concerns while claiming the move would help verify device authenticity.
India has cancelled an order that would have required smartphone manufacturers to preload a government-backed cyber safety application on all new devices. The directive, issued last week and made public on Monday, gave makers a 90-day window to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app, which could not be disabled or restricted. The measure prompted strong privacy and surveillance worries from experts and observers.
The government defended the decision, saying the app would help verify handset authenticity. Cybersecurity professionals, however, argued that the project infringed on citizens’ privacy rights and raised broader concerns about digital surveillance.
In announcing the reversal, the government said the order would be withdrawn due to the app’s growing acceptance among users.
According to the telecom ministry, the Sanchar Saathi app has already been downloaded by 14 million users, with about 2,000 reported frauds daily. A spike in activity followed on Tuesday, when 600,000 new users registered—an increase tenfold compared with prior days.
The initial mandatory installation faced widespread opposition from cybersecurity specialists and drew pushback from major smartphone makers, including Apple and Samsung. Sources cited to the BBC indicated that the directive was reportedly issued without sufficient consultation and raised concerns about user privacy norms.
With the order withdrawn, India’s Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, rejected fears that the app would enable broader surveillance, stating that “snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi safety app.”
Digital rights groups greeted the reversal cautiously. The Internet Freedom Foundation described it as a positive development but noted that the full legal text accompanying the decision—such as any revised directions under the Cyber Security Rules, 2024—has yet to be released for independent verification.
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