National
After Facing Severe Backlash, Centre Withdraws Order Mandating Pre-Installation of Cyber Security App Sanchar Saathi On Smartphones
“Just in last one day, 6 lakh citizens have registered for downloading the app, which is a 10x increase in its uptake. Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, Government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers,” the DoT said in a statement.
Picture : @ani_digital/X ( Sanchar Saathi)
After facing severe backlash the government withdrew the order mandating pre-installation of cyber security app Sanchar Saathi on smartphones by manufacturers. The Department of Telecom said that it is removing the order mandating installation of the Sanchar Saathi app, following a 10-fold jump in voluntary app downloads in just one day.
“The number of users has been increasing rapidly, and the mandate to install the app was meant to accelerate this process and make the app available to less aware citizens easily.
“Just in last one day, 6 lakh citizens have registered for downloading the app, which is a 10x increase in its uptake. Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, Government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers,” the DoT said in a statement.
In the November 28 order, the DoT directed smartphone makers to pre-install the app on all new devices and push it through updates on older ones. The order led to controversy with opposition leaders raising snooping concerns, saying the app could listen to calls and monitor messages.
Meanwhile , Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had asserted that snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the app. “Depending on the feedback, the ministry is ready to make changes to the order regarding the installation of the app in devices,” he told Lok Sabha.
“Sanchar Saathi app se “na snooping sambhav hai, no snooping hoga,” he said in response to Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda’s supplementary question regarding snooping concerns related to the app. The ministry’s order, dated November 28, mandating all mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi app in all handsets to be sold in India as well as in existing devices through software update has triggered a row. Concerns have been raised about possible snooping and that the app could be used to read messages that users exchange.