Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told Lok Sabha that the Sanchar Saathi app cannot enable snooping and exists solely to protect users. Amid criticism of mandatory pre-installation on all smartphones, he said the app empowers citizens and can be deleted if unwanted
The Department of Telecommunications has directed all mobile phone makers and importers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi fraud-reporting app on new devices within 90 days. Existing units in sales channels must receive the app through updates. Firms must submit compliance reports within 120 days.
Indigenously-developed system to identify and block international spoofed calls that display Indian mobile numbers has significantly brought down such calls to about 4 lakh per day
