India rescinds order to install government-backed cybersecurity app on mobile phones

NEW DELHI

India on Wednesday reversed an earlier order requiring companies that manufacture or import mobile phones for the domestic market to pre-install the government-backed "Sanchar Saathi" app in new devices.

India's Communications Ministry announced that it has removed the "mandatory pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app."

The decision comes 48 hours after issuing a directive aimed at preventing consumers from purchasing counterfeit devices and strengthening the initiative to "curb misuse of telecom resources for cyber fraud and ensure telecom cyber security."

Manufacturers and importers must work to push the app to devices already in distribution channels through software updates, according to an earlier statement issued on Monday.

The order, however, sparked a controversy, with opposition parties expressing privacy concerns, claiming that the move means "watching over every movement, interaction, and decision of each citizen."

However, the government stated that the app was optional and that users could uninstall it at any time.

To ensure that all citizens had access to cybersecurity, the government "mandated the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones," the ministry said, asserting that the app is secure and is solely intended to protect citizens from cybercriminals.

However, the ministry issued another statement on Wednesday, stating that 14 million users have "downloaded this app and are contributing to information on 2000 fraud incidents per day," and that this is an affirmation of citizens' faith in the government-provided app for their protection.

“Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, the government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers,” it added.