Centre withdraws order to pre-install Sanchar Saathi on smartphones amid ‘snooping’ claims
Opposition leaders had raised concerns about snooping, saying the app could listen to calls and monitor messages.
Opposition leaders had raised concerns about snooping, saying the app could listen to calls and monitor messages.
Opposition leaders had raised concerns about snooping, saying the app could listen to calls and monitor messages.
Facing pushback from several political parties over privacy concerns, the government on Wednesday withdrew its order mandating smartphone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app. The Department of Telecom said it is removing the order mandating the installation of the Sanchar Saathi app, following a 10-fold increase 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 the 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, the 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 sparked controversy, with opposition leaders raising concerns about snooping, saying the app could listen to calls and monitor messages.
(With PTI inputs)