Another Pegasus? Centre’s mandate on Sanchar Saathi sparks surveillance row; Opposition demands rollback
PTC Web Desk: A major political confrontation has erupted after the Union Government directed all mobile phone manufacturers to mandatorily pre-install the Sanchar Saathi application on every device sold or imported in India.
The move, issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications, has triggered intense criticism from Opposition parties, activists and privacy advocates who allege that the mandate resembles state surveillance.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram was among the first to react sharply, calling the directive “Pegasus plus plus” and warning that the government could gain sweeping access to citizens’ personal data. “Big Brother will take over our phones and private lives,” he posted on X, echoing the sentiment that soon became a top-trending discussion on the platform. Several social media users also drew parallels with Pegasus spyware, questioning whether the new app could be used to monitor calls, messages and location data.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi termed the move “another Big Boss surveillance moment,” while CPI(M) MP John Brittas mocked the Centre with a sarcastic remark about “ankle monitors, collars, and brain implants” for all citizens.
Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla went further, calling the directive a “blatant assault on privacy,” arguing that a pre-installed app that cannot be deleted gives the state unchecked access under the guise of safety.
What is Sanchar Saathi and why the uproar?
Sanchar Saathi is a government-developed digital safety tool designed to help citizens identify fraudulent communications, block stolen mobile phones and report suspicious online activity. Through features like Chakshu, users can submit reports on suspected cyber fraud, phishing links, commercial spam calls, device cloning attempts and harmful malware circulating through SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, RCS or iMessage.
While the government maintains that the app serves as a public safety tool, critics argue that its sensitive permissions, including access to the camera, call monitoring, message data, and network information, raise legitimate concerns. Cybersecurity experts say that although these permissions may assist in recovering stolen phones, they also create the potential for extensive surveillance if misused.
The government’s directive
According to the DoT notification dated November 28, smartphone makers have 90 days to ensure that Sanchar Saathi is:
For phones already in circulation, companies must push the app through mandatory software updates. Non-compliance, the notification warns, may invite action from the government.
The Ministry of Communications, led by Jyotiraditya Scindia, has justified the move as essential to curbing cybercrime and preventing the sale of counterfeit handsets. According to government data, the platform has already helped block over 42 lakh stolen phones and recover more than 26 lakh devices.
Opposition and privacy advocates push back
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal called the directive “beyond unconstitutional,” arguing that the Right to Privacy, affirmed by the Supreme Court as part of Article 21, cannot be diluted through compulsory apps. “A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a dystopian tool to track every Indian,” he wrote on X, demanding its immediate withdrawal.
Priyanka Chaturvedi warned that the Centre was prioritising surveillance over building strong grievance-redressal mechanisms. “Such shady ways to enter personal devices will be opposed,” she said.
Phone makers caught off guard
According to a Reuters report, major smartphone companies, including Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi, were not consulted before the order was issued. Industry insiders believe that Apple, which strongly opposes non-removable government apps due to privacy implications, could resist the mandate, setting up a potential confrontation with New Delhi.
The Communications Ministry and major manufacturers have not yet officially commented on the matter.
- With inputs from agencies
