A new directive from the Indian government ordering smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a state-owned cybersecurity application on all new devices has ignited a fierce debate over digital privacy and state surveillance. The move, which mandates the app be impossible for users to remove, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition politicians and privacy advocates who label it a "dystopian" overreach.
The Government's Directive and Its Justification
Issued quietly by the Department of Telecommunications on 28 November 2025, the order gives major device makers, including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi, a 90-day window to pre-load the Sanchar Saathi app on all forthcoming smartphone models. For handsets already in the supply chain, the government insists manufacturers push the software via over-the-air updates.
Officials have defended the policy as a crucial weapon against escalating cybercrime. They cite data showing the app, launched in January, has aided in recovering over 700,000 lost phones and blocking access to millions of fraudulent mobile connections. The government argues the tool is essential to combat phone theft and prevent counterfeit devices with spoofed IMEI numbers from entering the market.
A Backlash Over Privacy and Digital Autonomy
However, the order has provoked immediate and significant backlash. The opposition Congress party has demanded an immediate rollback, accusing the government of violating the constitutional right to privacy. KC Venugopal, Congress general secretary, condemned the directive as "beyond unconstitutional," stating, "A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a dystopian tool to monitor every Indian."
Privacy experts echo these concerns. Technology lawyer Mishi Choudhary warned that the policy "effectively removes user consent as a meaningful choice." The move has drawn unfavourable comparisons to similar mandates in Russia and North Korea, raising alarms about a troubling precedent for mandatory, non-removable state software.
On social media platform X, reactions were similarly charged. MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called it "another BIG BOSS surveillance moment," while commentator Tehseen Poonawalla described the mandate as a "blatant assault on our privacy & freedom."
Apple's Stance and a Potential Confrontation
The directive sets the stage for a potential confrontation with Apple, which holds a small but growing share of India's vast smartphone market. The tech giant has a long-standing policy of refusing to pre-install third-party or government applications on its devices. Tarun Pathak of Counterpoint Research noted that Apple has "historically refused such requests from governments" globally.
Analysts suggest Apple may seek a compromise, such as an on-screen prompt encouraging users to download the app voluntarily, rather than a forced pre-installation. With India being the world's second-largest mobile phone market, the outcome of this standoff is being closely watched by the global tech industry and digital rights campaigners alike.
Digital rights activists warn that the lack of public consultation and the permanent nature of the software installation raise profound questions about monitoring and data security. They argue this is especially critical as smartphones become central to identification, banking, and daily communication for over 1.2 billion telecom subscribers in the country.
