The Centre’s decision to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all mobile phones created massive controversy across the country. The Opposition strongly criticised the move. Several leaders described it as “unconstitutional", a “Big Brother" move and a potential “snooping mechanism". As pressure increased, the government issued a clarification. It said the app was “not mandatory and the users could delete it if they wished".

This clarification came after protests, statements in Parliament and public backlash. The issue quickly turned into a major debate over privacy and government control.

Why the government wanted the app on all phones

On November 28, the Department of Telecommunications issued a clear directive to smartphone manufacturers. It asked that every new phone sold in India must come with the Sanchar Saathi app already installed. It also ordered companies to push a software update to older phones so that the app would also appear on those devices.

The department wanted the app to be clearly visible during the phone’s first use or setup. It also made it clear that the app’s features must not be limited, disabled, or restricted in any way. Manufacturers were given 90 days to complete the process and 120 days to submit a report.

This order affected major companies such as Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo.

The government said this step was part of its plan to strengthen digital security and stop telecom misuse. An official release said, “The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is undertaking Sanchar Saathi initiative for curbing misuse of telecom resources for cyber frauds and ensuring telecom cyber security."

The order also warned of action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024 if companies failed to follow the directions.

Strong pushback from the Opposition

Opposition leaders reacted sharply to the order. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called the app a “snooping app". She said, “Citizens have the right to privacy. Everyone must have the right to privacy to send messages to family and friends without the government looking at everything."

She added that while cyber security is important, it does not give the government the right to intrude into people’s personal space. She said no citizen would accept the government watching everything on their phone.

Karti Chidambaram described the move as “Orwellian". KC Venugopal also condemned it and said, “Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT direction is beyond unconstitutional…A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a dystopian tool to monitor every Indian.”

Randeep Surjewala said, “India has now become a ‘surveillance state’. Is it official Pegasus or akin to REDFLAG App of North Korea on every cellphone?" He warned that once an app is forced on phones, the government could track locations, calls, messages and search history.

Renuka Chowdhury filed a notice in the Rajya Sabha to suspend normal proceedings so the issue could be discussed.

Shashi Tharoor offered a more balanced view. He said, “Common sense tells me that these apps can be useful provided they are voluntary. Everyone who needs them should be able to download them. Making anything compulsory in a democracy is troubling. I need to look more into the logic of the government."

Scindia says the app is voluntary

As the anger grew, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stepped forward to clear the air. He said the app is entirely voluntary and no one is forced to install or activate it.

“If you want to activate it, do so. If you do not want to activate it, don’t. Delete it if you wish. It is entirely your choice," he said.

He stressed that the app is designed only to help people stay safe. He said it has already helped prevent fraud worth Rs 22,800 crore in 2024. The portal has recorded 20 crore downloads and the app itself has more than 1.5 crore downloads. Authorities have deactivated 2.25 crore suspicious mobile connections. Around 20 lakh stolen phones have been traced and 7.5 lakh have been returned to their owners.

“Our responsibility is to help consumers and maintain their safety. What is Sanchar Saathi? Sanchar Saathi is an app and a portal through which consumer themselves are able to secure them," he added.

He clearly rejected all claims of surveillance and said the app does not support snooping or call monitoring.

BJP denies spying claims

BJP MP Sambit Patra also addressed the media to dismiss the allegations. He said, “People are asking whether the Sanchar Saathi app is meant for government snooping. Does the government want to spy on you? No, no, no. The government does not want to spy on anyone."

He explained that the app cannot read messages, cannot listen to phone calls and cannot access private data. He said it is only meant to stop fraud, improve safety and track lost or stolen phones.

Kiren Rijiju criticised the Opposition for repeatedly disrupting Parliament over new issues. He said the government is open to debate but rejected the idea that this app is a spy tool.

BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi said the app would increase people’s sense of security.

Tech companies react with caution

Reports said Apple is unlikely to follow the order. The company’s internal rules do not allow pre-installation of third-party apps, including government apps. Apple plans to inform the government of its position. A source said Apple “can’t do this. Period."

Samsung is still reviewing the order. Google is also studying the fine print to decide what action it will take. Apple has previously resisted similar demands in other regions when it believed user privacy was at risk.

Privacy versus protection

The Sanchar Saathi issue has now become a larger debate about privacy and safety in India’s digital age. The government says the app protects people from fraud. The Opposition fears that it could open the door to surveillance.

For now, the government has clarified one key point clearly. The app is voluntary. Users can choose to activate it. And if they do not want it, they can delete it.