India orders pre-install of state cyber-safety app on new phones
India orders pre-install of state cyber-safety app on new phones
The government mandates preloading the Sanchar Saathi cyber-safety app on new devices, with no removal option, as India fights rising cybercrime and lost-phone fraud.
India’s telecoms ministry has privately directed major smartphone makers to preload the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on all new devices, with no option to uninstall. The directive gives manufacturers 90 days to comply and asks them to push the app to phones in the supply chain via software updates for devices already on the market.
Proponents say the app helps curb cybercrime by tracking duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers and recovering lost devices. Since its January launch, the Sanchar Saathi app has helped recover more than 700,000 lost phones, including about 50,000 in October.
Privacy advocates warn that forcing pre-installation removes user consent and could set a troubling precedent for government-backed software. Mishi Choudhary, a technology-law expert, criticized the move as eroding meaningful choice. The government argues the app is essential for national telecom cybersecurity and to deter fraud and counterfeit devices.
Apple and other major manufacturers, including Samsung, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi, are bound by the new order, though the private nature of the directive means many details remain undisclosed. India, with more than 1.2 billion subscribers, contends the policy strengthens security while expanding a state-backed digital ecosystem.
Cover image source: India orders smartphone makers to preload state-owned cyber safety app 🔗
