India’s telecom ministry has directed all mobile device manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices sold in the country, igniting a fierce privacy debate. The app, designed to combat issues such as IMEI misuse, fraudulent calls, and phone theft, will appear on first boot with features that cannot be disabled, according to the ministry’s order. This mandate has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders who warn it threatens personal privacy and could facilitate mass surveillance.
Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi vehemently opposed the move, likening Sanchar Saathi to “Pegasus++” and describing it as a dystopian intrusion. They argue the app infringes on citizens’ constitutional rights under Article 21 by exposing sensitive data, including call logs and geolocation information, to potential misuse. Calls for the government to retract the directive have intensified amid these privacy concerns.
Responding to the backlash on December 2, 2025, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified that the app is optional and can be deleted by users at any time without activation. He dismissed allegations of government snooping, emphasizing that consumer choice remains intact despite the compulsory pre-installation. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has mandated a 90-day compliance window for manufacturers to implement the directive on all new devices, aligning India’s efforts with global initiatives to curb telecom fraud.
Despite the government’s reassurances, privacy advocates and political critics continue to challenge the policy. The tension underscores the ongoing struggle in India between leveraging technology for security and safeguarding individual privacy rights. As manufacturers prepare to comply with the deadline, the debate over the Sanchar Saathi app’s implications for user autonomy and data protection remains highly contentious.
