The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has withdrawn its controversial order that required smartphone manufacturers and importers to mandatorily pre‑install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new handsets sold in India. The rollback comes just days after an earlier directive issued on November 28 had asked companies to ship phones with the cyber‑safety app preloaded, and even push it on existing devices via software updates, sparking privacy and industry concerns.
The communications ministry said the decision to make pre‑installation voluntary was taken in view of the app’s growing adoption, noting that millions of users have already downloaded Sanchar Saathi to report fraud calls, stolen phones and SIM misuse. Officials clarified that while manufacturers will no longer be compelled to bundle the app, it will remain available on app stores, and users will retain full freedom to install or delete it based on their preference.
Digital‑rights groups and handset makers had argued that mandatory bundling without detailed safeguards could set a worrying precedent for bloatware and potential surveillance, even though the government maintained that the tool was designed primarily for user protection. The policy reversal is being seen as a signal that the Centre is willing to recalibrate digital‑policy decisions in response to feedback from consumers, industry and civil‑liberty advocates.
