Five days after the Indian government mandated that all mobile phones sold in the country come with the Sanchar Saathi app pre-installed, it has now decided to retract that directive. A statement from the Ministry of Communications confirmed this move on Wednesday (December 3), explaining that due to the app's growing popularity, making it compulsory was no longer necessary.&nbsp;India telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified in the Lok Sabha that the government was open to revising the rule if legitimate concerns were raised. Initially issued on November 28, the mandate required all new devices in India to have the Sanchar Saathi app pre-loaded, and language in the directive indicated that users wouldn't be able to remove or disable it. This sparked concerns among privacy advocates and civil society groups, who feared the app could be used as a government surveillance tool.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-absolute-chaos-indigo-faces-backlash-over-several-flight-delays-and-chaos-at-airports-carrier-issues-statement-1764760088964">'Absolute chaos': IndiGo faces backlash over several flight delays and chaos at airports; carrier issues statement</a>&nbsp;The government soon reassured the public that users could uninstall the app, but privacy issues persisted. Scindia argued in Parliament that the app does not collect personal data and is designed solely to help users combat cyber fraud. According to Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the decision to revoke the mandate followed the app's significant uptake, with over 600,000 new registrations in just one day. This surge in adoption, Mittal said, proved that citizens were confident in the app’s utility for fraud prevention.&nbsp;Despite the reversal, some in the mobile manufacturing industry welcomed the decision. The opposition, however, criticised the move, accusing the government of attempting to create a surveillance state under the guise of safety. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera argued that the Sanchar Saathi app could give authorities access to private data, drawing parallels to the Pegasus spyware scandal.&nbsp;The Sanchar Saathi app has been downloaded by over 14 million users, contributing to daily reports of around 2,000 fraud incidents. The government hopes that by making the app more accessible, even those less familiar with its features will benefit from its fraud-prevention tools.

After backlash, government withdraws directive requiring Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones

Five days after the Indian government mandated that all mobile phones sold in the country come with the Sanchar Saathi app pre-installed, it has now decided to retract that directive. A statement from the Ministry of Communications confirmed this move on Wednesday (December 3), explaining that due to the app's growing popularity, making it compulsory was no longer necessary. India telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified in the Lok Sabha that the government was open to revising the rule if legitimate concerns were raised. Initially issued on November 28, the mandate required all new devices in India to have the Sanchar Saathi app pre-loaded, and language in the directive indicated that users wouldn't be able to remove or disable it. This sparked concerns among privacy advocates and civil society groups, who feared the app could be used as a government surveillance tool. Also Read: 'Absolute chaos': IndiGo faces backlash over several flight delays and chaos at airports; carrier issues statement The government soon reassured the public that users could uninstall the app, but privacy issues persisted. Scindia argued in Parliament that the app does not collect personal data and is designed solely to help users combat cyber fraud. According to Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the decision to revoke the mandate followed the app's significant uptake, with over 600,000 new registrations in just one day. This surge in adoption, Mittal said, proved that citizens were confident in the app’s utility for fraud prevention. Despite the reversal, some in the mobile manufacturing industry welcomed the decision. The opposition, however, criticised the move, accusing the government of attempting to create a surveillance state under the guise of safety. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera argued that the Sanchar Saathi app could give authorities access to private data, drawing parallels to the Pegasus spyware scandal. The Sanchar Saathi app has been downloaded by over 14 million users, contributing to daily reports of around 2,000 fraud incidents. The government hopes that by making the app more accessible, even those less familiar with its features will benefit from its fraud-prevention tools.

India's government reverses mandate requiring the Sanchar Saathi app to be pre-installed on mobile phones after public backlash and privacy concerns

Supersonic systems can be integrated into existing land, air and sea platforms without major redesign. This compatibility provides operational flexibility that newer hypersonic systems, still undergoing integration trials, do not yet offer at scale.

Supersonic systems can be integrated into existing land, air and sea platforms without major redesign. This compatibility provides operational flexibility that newer hypersonic systems, still undergoing integration trials, do not yet offer at scale.

What is 'Sanchar Saathi' app and why is it now mandatory in your new mobile phones?

India's telecommunications ministry has issued a private directive requiring all smartphone manufacturers to preload the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on all new devices, according to a government order seen by news agency Reuters. This mandate is expected to trigger tension, particularly with Apple, a company that has traditionally resisted such requirements.&nbsp;India is home to one of the world’s largest mobile phone markets, boasting over 1.2 billion subscribers. Since its introduction in January, the Sanchar Saathi app has reportedly helped recover more than 700,000 stolen phones, including 50,000 in October alone. The new government directive, which came into effect on November 28, gives smartphone makers 90 days to ensure that the app is preloaded onto all newly sold phones. The app must be non-removable by users, and phones already in circulation are required to receive the app through a software update.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/10-reasons-why-indian-supreme-court-is-right-in-seeking-social-media-content-regulation-the-menace-of-freedom-without-accountability-1764325546435">10 reasons why Indian Supreme Court is right in seeking social media content regulation: The menace of freedom without accountability</a>&nbsp;The government claims this initiative is essential to counteract cybersecurity risks, including fraud involving duplicate or counterfeit IMEI numbers, which can lead to scams and misuse of the mobile network. Apple, known for restricting the installation of third-party or government apps on its devices before sale, is one of the major companies affected by this new rule, alongside other manufacturers like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.&nbsp;The app is designed to help users report suspicious calls, verify IMEI numbers, and block stolen phones using a centralized database. According to the government, it has proven effective in preventing cybercrimes, with more than 5 million downloads and the blocking of over 3.7 million stolen devices. It has also led to the termination of more than 30 million fraudulent connections.&nbsp;Despite its success, the government's decision has sparked concern among industry players who feel that there was insufficient consultation with companies before the order was finalized. The telecom ministry has not yet commented on the matter, nor have Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi responded to requests for clarification.

India wants every smartphone preloaded with THIS cybersecurity app. What does it mean for you?

India's telecommunications ministry has issued a private directive requiring all smartphone manufacturers to preload the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on all new devices, according to a government order seen by news agency Reuters. This mandate is expected to trigger tension, particularly with Apple, a company that has traditionally resisted such requirements. India is home to one of the world’s largest mobile phone markets, boasting over 1.2 billion subscribers. Since its introduction in January, the Sanchar Saathi app has reportedly helped recover more than 700,000 stolen phones, including 50,000 in October alone. The new government directive, which came into effect on November 28, gives smartphone makers 90 days to ensure that the app is preloaded onto all newly sold phones. The app must be non-removable by users, and phones already in circulation are required to receive the app through a software update. Also Read: 10 reasons why Indian Supreme Court is right in seeking social media content regulation: The menace of freedom without accountability The government claims this initiative is essential to counteract cybersecurity risks, including fraud involving duplicate or counterfeit IMEI numbers, which can lead to scams and misuse of the mobile network. Apple, known for restricting the installation of third-party or government apps on its devices before sale, is one of the major companies affected by this new rule, alongside other manufacturers like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi. The app is designed to help users report suspicious calls, verify IMEI numbers, and block stolen phones using a centralized database. According to the government, it has proven effective in preventing cybercrimes, with more than 5 million downloads and the blocking of over 3.7 million stolen devices. It has also led to the termination of more than 30 million fraudulent connections. Despite its success, the government's decision has sparked concern among industry players who feel that there was insufficient consultation with companies before the order was finalized. The telecom ministry has not yet commented on the matter, nor have Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi responded to requests for clarification.

According to reports, India's telecom ministry mandates the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones to enhance cybersecurity, raising concerns from Apple and others

This story is about a new service that can make your life easier if you ever happen to misplace or lose your phone. Launched by the Indian government, this new security platform aims to empower mobile subscribers.

'Sanchar Saathi' allows Indian citizens to block stolen phones

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After backlash, government withdraws directive requiring Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones

What is 'Sanchar Saathi' app and why is it now mandatory?

India wants every smartphone preloaded with THIS cybersecurity app. Deets inside

'Sanchar Saathi' allows Indian citizens to block stolen phones