New Delhi, Dec 3: The Sanchar Saathi cyber safety app recorded a massive spike in downloads on Tuesday, jumping from a daily average of around 60,000 to nearly 6 lakh, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) sources said on Wednesday.
The surge came even as Opposition leaders and several industry experts criticised the government’s order mandating mobile manufacturers to pre-install the app, alleging it could lead to privacy violations and misuse for surveillance.
A DoT source said the public response suddenly increased, with app downloads touching around 6 lakh in a single day. Official data shows that 1.5 crore users had already downloaded the app before the order was issued.
As per the November 28 order, Sanchar Saathi must be pre-installed on all new mobile phones sold in India and added to existing devices through software updates. Manufacturers are required to ensure the app is visible during device setup and fully functional.
Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has clarified that users are free to uninstall the app if they do not wish to use it.
DoT officials said the mandate applies to manufacturers, not users. They added that the app does not collect unnecessary data and only accesses limited information with user permission during fraud reporting processes, such as checking the active SIM or sending a one-time verification SMS.
The app may also seek camera access to capture the IMEI number on device boxes for verification or screenshots of fraud calls and messages supplied voluntarily by users as evidence.
Officials emphasised that the app does not access contacts, location, microphone, Bluetooth, or any private data, and does not harvest information beyond what the user permits. Users can revoke permissions anytime or uninstall the app.
Despite these clarifications, concerns remain. Amol Kulkarni of CUTS International said mandating the app without public consultation raises important questions about trust and transparency.
Sanjeev Kumar of Luthra and Luthra Law Offices said the government’s decision stems from the growing threat of spoofed mobile devices and rising cybercrime, including digital arrest scams. He noted that the Supreme Court recently directed the CBI to probe such scams due to their scale and seriousness.
