(Image source from: Ptcnews.tv)

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has recently instructed smartphone manufacturers to install the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices. It was previously reported that these companies would also need to make sure that users could not remove or turn off the government app. However, the government has clarified that it is completely up to users whether or not they keep the app on their phones, and they can uninstall it if they wish. Additionally, a report from Reuters mentions that Apple is not going to follow this instruction because of concerns over privacy and security in its iOS system. While speaking to journalists outside Parliament, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed that using the Sanchar Saathi app is up to the user, just like any other app, and it can be removed if the user does not want it.

“You are free to turn it on or off whenever you like... If you don’t want Sanchar Saathi, you can get rid of it. It is entirely up to you,” the minister told ANI on Tuesday. A report from Monday pointed out that the DoT has told manufacturers to make sure the app is simple to access during the setup and that its features should not be turned off, which added to the confusion. Scindia also responded to worries about privacy and security with the app. He called these worries “misunderstandings” and explained that the Sanchar Saathi app does not allow spying or call tracking on phones, stating it was made to improve user safety. He mentioned that the state-supported cybersecurity app has helped disconnect nearly 1.75 crore fake mobile connections. It has also assisted in locating around 20 lakh stolen phones, out of which 7.5 lakh have been recovered and returned to their rightful owners.

In another update, the DoT has given instructions for the Sanchar Saathi app to be pre-installed on mobile devices. According to this instruction, the app must be visible, usable, and enabled for users during the first setup. Companies have been given 90 days to implement this directive and are required to submit a report on their compliance within 120 days.

Although the Sanchar Saathi app is expected to be included in new phones right away, manufacturers are also required to add it to existing devices through software updates. Citing sources knowledgeable about the situation, Reuters reports that Apple does not intend to follow the government’s order to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all mobile devices in India. The company is reportedly going to inform the government that it does not adhere to similar rules elsewhere in the world due to possible privacy and security concerns regarding its iOS system. While Apple will not make a public statement or take legal action, it will explain security issues when addressing the government, according to a source. The report also noted that other companies, like Samsung, are currently assessing the government’s directive.