03 December,2025 03:31 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia speaks during the Winter Session of Parliament. Pic/PTI
Amid growing privacy concerns over the Sanchar Saathi app, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday asserted in the Lok Sabha that snooping is neither possible nor will it happen through the app.
He added that the government is ready to make changes to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) order regarding pre-installation if public feedback requires it.
Replying to a supplementary question from Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Deepender Singh Hooda, Scindia said, "I want to keep all the facts in front of the nation. We have one billion mobile users, but there are elements who use it in a negative manner. It is the government's duty to keep citizens safe. Sanchar Saathi portal was started in 2023 with this in mind, and the app was brought in 2025⦠If the app is on your phone, it does not mean it will operate automatically. Till the user registers in the app, it will not operate."
He clarified that users have full freedom to delete the app like any other application.
"I can delete it like any other app, as every citizen has this right in a democracy. The success of the app is based on public participation. Based on public feedback, we are ready to bring a change in the order. Snooping is not possible, nor will it be done," Scindia added.
The November 28 DoT order mandates that all mobile phone manufacturers pre-install Sanchar Saathi on new handsets sold in India, and push it through software updates on existing devices. The directive also requires that the app be visible and accessible to users during device setup, and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted.
During Question Hour, Hooda expressed concerns that a pre-installed app might still have active features even after being disabled by users. "A directive for pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app has been passed. The Union Minister said it will be pre-installed, but later the user can delete it. However, when there is a pre-loaded app, even after disabling it, users would not know if all features have been disabled or not. Is it an attack on privacy? There are concerns over snooping," the Congress MP asked.
Scindia reiterated that the app is intended for citizen protection, enabling users to verify IMEI numbers, report misuse of telecom services, trace stolen phones, and disconnect fraudulent connections. To date, around 1.5 crore downloads have been recorded, with 26 lakh stolen handsets traced, 7 lakh returned to users, 41 lakh mobile connections disconnected, and 6 lakh fraud cases blocked.
He emphasised that activation of the app is not mandatory. "It is fully up to consumers to use it or delete it like any other app," Scindia said.
(With PTI and ANI inputs)
