The Indian government has mandated that all smartphone manufacturers preload their new devices with the state-owned cyber safety app, Sanchar Saathi. The directive, issued on November 28, gives companies 90 days to comply. This move is expected to face resistance from companies like Apple and privacy advocates.
The order from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) requires that the Sanchar Saathi app be pre-installed on all new mobile phones and that users cannot disable or delete it. Moreover, manufacturers must push software updates to install the app on devices already in circulation.
Sanchar Saathi, launched in January 2025, allows users to verify IMEI numbers, block stolen phones, and identify fraudulent mobile connections. The government says the app is essential to combat cybersecurity threats from duplicate or spoofed International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, which can be used to facilitate scams and network misuse. The app also helps in tracking and blocking lost or stolen phones. Government data indicates that the app has been downloaded more than five million times and has helped block over 3.7 million stolen or lost mobile phones and terminate over 30 million fraudulent connections. It has also aided in the recovery of more than 700,000 lost phones.
The government believes that this measure is crucial to prevent cybercrime and assist law enforcement in tracing devices, while also keeping counterfeits out of the black market. Officials maintain that the app is essential to fight "serious endangerment" from phone theft, spoofed IMEIs, and cyber-fraud rings.
However, the mandate has raised concerns among digital rights groups and tech experts. Some argue that it contradicts earlier government proposals to remove pre-installed bloatware and ensure tighter app screening. Mishi Choudhary, an internet advocacy expert, stated that the government is effectively removing user consent as a meaningful choice.
Apple, in particular, may face challenges due to its internal policies that prohibit installing government or third-party apps on iPhones before sale. Analysts suggest that Apple might seek a compromise, such as prompting users to voluntarily install the app instead of preloading it. Apple has previously rejected similar government requests, including one for an anti-spam app.
India is the world's second-largest smartphone market, with over 1.2 billion mobile subscribers. The implementation of this directive is expected to significantly impact the smartphone market and raise further discussions about user privacy and government control over digital devices.
