A major political and public debate has erupted across India after the central government quietly directed smartphone manufacturers to preload a state-run cyber safety app, Sanchar Saathi, on all devices sold in the country. The move, revealed through confidential instructions issued to companies including Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi, has raised serious questions on privacy, surveillance and digital rights.
According to sources, Apple has conveyed that it does not intend to comply with the directive in its current form and plans to formally express its concerns to New Delhi. Other manufacturers are reviewing the order as they await further clarity from the government.
The directive requires companies to ensure that Sanchar Saathi — an app developed to help users track lost or stolen phones, block their misuse and verify mobile connections — must be preloaded on all new handsets within 90 days. For devices already in the supply chain, companies have been asked to push the app through software updates. The government has also urged manufacturers to ensure the app’s core functions cannot be disabled.
Although the Telecom Ministry later confirmed the mandate, framing it as a crucial step to counter threats to national cyber security, opposition parties and privacy advocates are strongly contesting this justification. Critics argue that an undeletable, government-controlled app could provide a backdoor into the personal data of India’s 730 million smartphone users.
Addressing the backlash, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday attempted to calm fears, stating that Sanchar Saathi is “voluntary and democratic” and that users can choose whether to activate it. He added that the app “can be easily deleted at any time.” However, these remarks did not clarify the earlier confidential order that requires smartphone makers to preload the app and ensure its functionalities remain intact.
The controversy intensified when Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the Modi government of attempting to “snoop on citizens under the guise of cyber safety.” She said that forcing a state-run app onto every smartphone reflects an attempt to expand government surveillance rather than strengthen security.
Civil liberties groups have also raised red flags, noting that mandatory digital tools — especially those controlled by the state — risk undermining user autonomy and privacy, particularly in the absence of transparent oversight mechanisms.
With India being one of the world’s largest smartphone markets, the standoff between the government and major manufacturers like Apple could have significant implications for technology policy, corporate compliance and digital freedom in the country.
As the political storm continues to build, all eyes are now on how the central government balances its stated security objectives with growing public concerns over privacy and state overreach.
This is a web generated news report
