Smartphones in India will now come with a preloaded “Sanchar Saathi” app in a sweeping measure to strengthen cybersecurity. The government says that the move will safeguard smartphone users against scams, but the move has ignited a fierce debate against it.
The decision shall come into force in 90 days. And it will need smartphone makers to pre-install the app on their upcoming phones. On November 21, the Indian government issued a directive to Apple, Samsung, vivo, Xiaomi, Motorola, etc. to preload their new smartphones with the Sanchar Saathi app. The government has warned that companies that don’t comply will face a penalty.
The ruling applies not just to the upcoming phones but also those in pre-sale transit.
The DoT has given this directive to the phone makers in accordance with the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, and its amendments.
As we discuss the smartphone security stuff, you must also learn about the SIM Swapping scam and ways to stay safe from it.
What is Sanchar Saathi app in India?
The Sanchar Saathi app is the latest security initiative from India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), developed to enhance cybersecurity on smartphones to protect users from spam and spoofing. It requires every major smartphone maker including Apple, Samsung, and Chinese entities, to preload their phones with the Sanchar Sathi app. They must also be fully functional to work effectively as the government desires.
The government states that the Sanchar Saathi app will prevent misuse of smartphones by keeping the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number safe from rogue users.
The order related to the smartphone manufacturers states that the Sanchar Saathi app shall be “pre-installed on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India”. The order also mentions that OEMs must ensure that the app is “readily visible and accessible to end users” during the device setup and states that the app’s functions must not be restricted or disabled.”
Also: How to Track/Report Lost or Stolen Mobile Phone IMEI Online?
A fierce debate has sparked
The decision to push smartphones with the government-mandated cybersecurity app on smartphones has triggered a fierce debate in India. Experts and users have called it an intrusion into the smartphone users’ privacy.
Nikhil Pahwa, founder of tech policy and analysis company Medianama, criticized the decision and branded it “bad news” for mobile phone users. “Legally, one can argue that your mobile phone is your personal space, and this is an invasion of your personal space.” He also raised suspicions about the app, “How do we know this app isn’t used to access files and messages on our device? Or a future update won’t do that?” This is clearly the sentiment of many in India regarding this directive.
But it’s not just India doing. The Russian government also has a messenger app, MAX, preinstalled on phones sold in the country. South Korea, though, used to have a similar app, “Smart Sheriff,” coming preloaded, but it has now been removed. The question could be the intent and the capability of the app in terms of what it accesses from the device. Users do take their privacy seriously. Likewise, in Nepal, MDMS was not a mobile app for users’ phones; however, it was interpreted to have access to users’ content on their devices. It’s now in hibernation.
What’s your perspective on the government having phone makers to preload an app for security reasons? Do you side with this decision or have a reservation against it? Do share in our comment section below.
