News Desk: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Wednesday withdrew its directive requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the government’s Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices starting next year. The reversal follows widespread backlash from citizens, digital rights groups, and the Opposition, who criticised the directive as intrusive and unnecessary.
The now-withdrawn order—one of several issued after the DoT granted itself new authority to regulate Telecommunication Identifier User Entities (TIUE)—was not released publicly but leaked by recipients, triggering immediate uproar. Critics argued that a government app preloaded on every phone without user consent posed serious privacy concerns.
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In its statement announcing the rollback, the DoT claimed that a surge in voluntary Sanchar Saathi downloads amid the controversy made the mandate redundant. “The number of users has been increasing rapidly, and the mandate to install the app was meant to accelerate this process and make the app available to less aware citizens easily,” the department said.
Responding in Parliament to Congress MP Deepinder Singh Hooda, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia defended the app’s utility, noting that it helped disconnect 1.5 crore fraudulent mobile connections and trace 26 lakh lost phones. However, he added that the government remained responsive to public sentiment: “This app’s success is premised on public support; if, based on feedback, we have to change the order, we are ready to do that.” The rollback marks the end of a turbulent episode, highlighting growing public concerns around digital privacy and government-mandated technology interventions.
