Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:58pm on 02 Dec 2025,Tuesday India
India faces its biggest privacy controversy after the government mandated pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones. The Department of Telecommunications' November 28 order requires manufacturers to preload the fraud-reporting app within 90 days and ensure features remain unrestricted. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia claims users can delete it, but tech experts warn system-level embedding may prevent removal. Apple indicates non-compliance citing privacy concerns, while Samsung reviews the directive. Opposition leaders, including Congress's Mallikarjun Kharge and AAP's Manish Sisodia, call it unconstitutional surveillance, comparing it to the Pegasus scandal. The Internet Freedom Foundation warns mandatory state software poses serious privacy risks, though some experts support enhanced telecom security measures. (PC: X)
