Sanchar Saathi Mandatory on All Phones: Big Political Row Over Privacy, Surveillance Fears

A huge political controversy has erupted after the central government directed mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on every mobile device made or sold in India. While the government says the move will improve security and help citizens fight cyber fraud, the Opposition claims it is a step toward large-scale surveillance. Here is a detailed and easy-to-understand breakdown of the issue.

1. What Triggered the Political Controversy?

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently issued a notification asking all phonemakers to mandatorily install the Sanchar Saathi app on every new smartphone within 90 days.
The directive also applies to phones already manufactured — companies must push the app through software updates.

2. What Exactly Is the Sanchar Saathi App?

Sanchar Saathi is the government’s official mobile safety and cyber-fraud reporting platform.
It offers services such as:

• Reporting cyber-fraud messages

• Blocking lost or stolen phones

• Checking how many mobile numbers are linked to your ID

• Identifying misuse of phone numbers

• Verifying IMEI authenticity

It aims to create safer telecom usage nationwide.

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3. The Role of the Chakshu Feature

One of the most important features inside Sanchar Saathi is Chakshu, a tool meant for reporting suspicious calls, spam messages, phishing links, fraudulent URLs and device-cloning attempts.
Chakshu helps DoT trace telecom misuse and stop cyber-crime in early stages.

4. What Has the Government Ordered Phonemakers to Do?

The official notification states:

• The app must be pre-installed

• It must be visible and accessible during phone setup

• The app cannot be disabled or uninstalled

• All brands — Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, OnePlus — must comply

• Mandatory rollout deadline: 90 days

• Compliance report deadline: 120 days

Failure to comply may attract legal action.

5. Why the Government Says It Is Needed

According to the government:

• Cyber fraud cases are rising

• Thousands of phones with fake IMEI numbers are circulating

• Criminals easily misuse SIMs and devices

• Citizens need a simple tool to report telecom fraud

Official data shows the Sanchar Saathi system has:

• Blocked 42 lakh stolen phones

• Helped recover 7 lakh phones

• Removed 30 million fraudulent connections

6. Why the Opposition Is Strongly Opposed

Opposition parties have accused the government of launching a digital surveillance tool disguised as a “safety app”.

Congress leader KC Venugopal called the move “beyond unconstitutional”, saying a compulsory app that cannot be removed “violates the right to privacy”.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described it as another “Big Boss surveillance moment”.

They argue that:

• Mandatory installation is unnecessary

• Preloaded apps remind people of authoritarian regimes

• Citizens must have the freedom to uninstall apps

• Sensitive access permissions raise monitoring fears

7. What Data Does the App Access?

According to app store listings, Sanchar Saathi may ask for:

• Call logs

• Message access

• Camera and video access

• Device ID and network data

Opposition leaders claim these permissions could allow government monitoring of user behaviour, even though no such claim has been proven.

8. Why Tech Companies Are Upset

A Reuters report says the directive may lead to a clash between the government and major phone brands.
Companies like Apple have opposed mandatory government apps in other countries, citing privacy and security concerns.
Industry sources also said they were not consulted before the order.

9. How the App Works on Phones

Once installed, Sanchar Saathi connects the device’s IMEI to CEIR, India’s central database of legitimate mobile phones.

If a phone is stolen:

• The user can block the IMEI

• CEIR instantly disables the phone on all networks

• Even SIM change will not activate it

• Police can trace attempts to re-use the device

This system is already helping authorities track lost devices.

10. Why the Issue Matters to Every Citizen

The core of the debate is security vs privacy.

Supporters say:

• The app strengthens safety

• Helps fight cybercrime

• Protects people from fraud

Critics say:

• It opens the door to mass surveillance

• Citizens lose control over their own devices

• It sets a dangerous precedent

With rising cyber fraud and growing privacy concerns, this debate is far from over.