Sanchar Saathi app notmandatory, can be deleted:Scindia amid privacy row

 

after his Ministry told smartphone makers to preload a State-run cybersecurity app on all new devices, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said users are free to delete the Sanchar Saathi app, and it will remain dormant till they register on it.

 

If youwant to deleteit, then deleteit,”Scindia toldreporters outside Parliament. “But not everyonein thecountry knows that this app exists to protect them from fraudand theft.”His remark followed growing privacyconcernsoveraNovember 28Governmentorderdirecting smartphone makers to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi app onallnewdevicesand toensure that “its functionalities are not disabled or restricted.

 

For phones already in use or lyingunsoldinstores, theorder asked manufacturers to push the app through software updates.Critics fear that theapp couldbeused toreadmessages that users exchange. The Opposition Congress called Sanchar Saathi a “snooping app”.Denying theOpposition’s charges, Scindia asserted that there was no snooping or call monitoring through the app.

 

Critics also pointed toa similar mandate issued by Russia in August requiring a statebacked messaging app, MAX, tobepre-installedonallsmartphones. The Government, however, said the app is crucial tocounter“serious endangerment” to telecom cybersecurity from duplicate or spoofedIMEI numbers, which enablescamsandnetworkmisuse.