India has officially rolled back its decision to force smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the government’s cyber safety app, Sanchar Saathi, after widespread public concern over privacy and surveillance.
The earlier order had given companies 90 days to preload the app on all new devices, and users would not have been able to “disable or restrict” it. This triggered a major backlash from cybersecurity experts, who argued that the mandate violated citizens’ right to privacy.
The government initially defended the rule, saying the app helps verify handset authenticity and protects users from digital fraud. But after criticism and reported opposition from major brands like Apple and Samsung, the order was withdrawn on Wednesday.
Sanchar Saathi has already seen 14 million downloads, with users reporting around 2,000 fraud cases daily. On Tuesday alone, the app saw a sharp increase with 600,000 new registrations.
However, tech companies expressed concerns that the directive was issued without proper consultation and potentially clashed with global privacy standards. Despite withdrawing the order, India’s Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia rejected surveillance fears, saying, “Snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi app.”
Digital rights groups welcomed the decision but urged caution. The Internet Freedom Foundation said it is waiting for the official legal order and any updated guidelines before considering the issue fully resolved.
