Govt Clarifies Sanchar Saathi App Not Mandatory After Privacy Row

5 hours ago

On this Special Report, the focus is on the controversy surrounding the government's directive regarding the 'Sanchar Saathi' app. Initially reported as a mandatory pre-installation on all smartphones for cyber safety, the move sparked a debate on privacy and surveillance. The programme details the government's clarification that the app is optional and can be deleted by users. It also highlights the concerns raised by civil liberty groups about potential data misuse and the balance between security and privacy.

Transcript

00:00Fair amount of controversy today and it all started with what many thought was slowly slipping in of what the government calls security

00:08through a particular app which can track your phone but the opposition clearly and others are calling it surveillance.

00:15So which one is it and has the government somewhere down the line backtracked on what seemed to be an order of sorts

00:23and now saying it's up to you, delete it if you want. Here's more.

00:30A sweeping digital directive by the government and then a rethink under pressure.

00:40Every smartphone sold in India must now come pre-installed with a government-developed app, Sanchar Sati.

00:46No choice at the point of sale, no opt-out at installation.

00:52The aim, the government says, is cyber safety.

00:56The impact, nationwide uproar, citing breach of privacy.

01:00The results, a possible climb down by the government.

01:03Why many see this as a rethink in the notice,

01:09issued by the telecom ministry, point 7b,

01:11clearly states that the app's functional functionally

01:14is a good thing.

01:15If you want to do this, you don't want to do this app's application.

01:16You don't want to do this, you don't want to do this, you don't want to do this, you don't want to do this.

01:20Why many see this as a rethink in the notice issued by the telecom ministry, point 7b,

01:36clearly states that the app's functionality is neither disabled nor restricted.

01:42We've discussed this at great lengths on cyber security and this and that and definitely there's a need for cyber security,

01:51but that doesn't mean that it gives you an excuse to go into every citizen's telephone.

01:54I don't think anybody, any citizen would be happy.

01:58India is a democratic country.

01:59India has in its constitution,

02:01in its constitution,

02:02in its constitution,

02:03in its constitution,

02:03The department of telecommunications had asked all mobile phone manufacturers and importers

02:16to ensure the Sanchar Saathi app is installed on every new handset sold in the country.

02:22Stating security concerns,

02:24the app allows users to block stolen phones,

02:28check fake IMEIs,

02:30report spam calls and track fraudulent connections.

02:32Civil liberty groups and tech experts smell surveillance,

02:38saying a pre-installed government app,

02:40active by default,

02:41raises serious red flags on data access,

02:44tracking and misuse.

02:46Faced with mounting pressure,

02:48the government moved quickly to clarify and climb down.

03:02According to the Centre, cyber frauds, stolen phones and fake SIMs are rising sharply, causing massive financial losses.

03:25Sanchar Saathi, they say, empowers citizens to protect themselves in real time.

03:32The Sanchar Saathi Rao has reopened a larger national debate.

03:37Where does cyber security end and government surveillance begin?

03:41In a digital democracy, safety cannot come at the cost of trust.

03:45Bureau report, India Today.

Govt Clarifies Sanchar Saathi App Not Mandatory After Privacy Row

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