Government withdraws order on mandatory Sanchar Saathi app installation

The government withdrew its order requiring smartphone makers to pre install the Sanchar Saathi app after a sudden rise in voluntary downloads. The earlier order had drawn criticism from opposition leaders who raised concerns about possible snooping and privacy issues

Hyderabad: Facing widespread criticism over its directive to make the Sanchar Saathi app mandatory on all smartphones, the Union government on Wednesday announced that it had decided not to proceed with the compulsory pre-installation requirement. Officials, however, noted that even as concerns over user privacy were being raised across the country, the app witnessed an unexpected ten-fold surge in downloads within a single day.

In a press release issued through the PIB, the Ministry of Telecommunications said the government’s objective had solely been to extend cyber-security protection to all citizens. The move to mandate pre-installation, it said, was aimed at ensuring easier access to the app, particularly for users who may not be fully aware of cyber-fraud risks. The Ministry reiterated that Sanchar Saathi is secure and designed only to safeguard users from cybercriminal activity.

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According to official data, the app has recorded 1.4 crore downloads so far, with users collectively reporting around 2,000 fraud incidents every day. The number of users continues to grow rapidly, and officials said the proposed mandate was intended to accelerate adoption and make the platform more readily ava