The government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers, citing Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance in India, according to PIB release announcing the revocation of mandatory installation. Ministry said in a statement that the government had with an intent to provide access to cyber security to all citizens had mandated pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones. Ministry of Communications has revoked the mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on mobile handsets imported or manufactured in India. This comes just days after DoT proposed to make the pre- installation of Sanchar Saathi app mandatory for mobile manufacturers. If you wondering what is behind the this backtracking, that too so soon. Is it the furore created by Opposition parties or privacy activists? None.
What is Sanchar Saathi app
This also facilitates blocking of lost/stolen mobile devices in network of all telecom operators so that lost/stolen devices cannot be used in India. The app also facilitates tracing of the lost/stolen mobile devices.
The statement also stresses what telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, said in the Parliament that Sanchar Saathi app is not a snooping or surveillance tool. “The app is secure and purely meant to help citizens from bad actors in the cyber world,” release stated. “It helps in “Jan Bhagidari” by all citizens in reporting on such bad actors and actions while protecting users themselves. This has been clarified by Government,” the release further said.
There is no other function other than protecting the users in the app and they can remove the app whenever they want. Sanchar Saathi app is part of Sanchar Saathi platform, which is a citizen-centric initiative of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to empower mobile subscribers, strengthen their security and increase awareness about citizen centric initiatives of the Government. Sanchar Saathi is available in form of Mobile App and web portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in). Sanchar Saathi provides various citizen-centric services. It facilitates citizens to report the suspected fraud communications with the intention of defrauding telecom service users for cyber-crime, financial frauds, non-bonafide purpose like impersonation or any other misuse through Call, SMS or WhatsApp. Few examples of suspected fraud communications are communication related to impersonation as DoT / TRAI, police, Government official, suspected investment & trading, KYC & Payment related to Bank / Electricity / Gas / Insurance etc. If anyone tries to use the blocked mobile phone, its traceability is generated. Once mobile phone is found it may be unblocked on the App or portal for its normal use by the citizens.