The Indian government has rescinded a recent mandate requiring all smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi application on devices sold within the country. Originally, the directive stipulated a 90-day grace period for implementation. This decision follows significant criticism from both the technology industry and the public.
The mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi, a government-developed application, proved contentious. Concerns were raised by device manufacturers, including Apple, which reportedly resisted the order. Public apprehension centered on the rationale behind the government’s push for mandatory pre-installation. Government officials initially issued conflicting statements regarding user autonomy, initially asserting user freedom to utilize or delete the application. However, this contradicted the original mandate, which stipulated that device manufacturers ensure the application’s functionality remained unaltered.
As of the present time, formal communication from the Indian government to smartphone manufacturers regarding the policy change remains pending. Official notification is expected later today.
Launched in January, the Sanchar Saathi application has achieved 14 million downloads and recorded 3 million monthly active users as of November. The application’s core functionality encompasses reporting instances of fraud, tracking stolen mobile devices, and preventing their misuse.
