India Withdraws Directive for Mandatory Pre-installation of Cyber Safety App on Smartphones

Fri Dec 12 2025 18:27:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant policy reversal, the Indian government has scrapped an order that required smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a state-run cyber safety app, citing public backlash and concerns over privacy.

Following public outcry and resistance from major tech companies like Apple and Samsung, India has rescinded its order mandating the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on smartphones. The government initially argued that the app would help validate handset authenticity, but critics raised privacy and surveillance issues.

India has scrapped an order making it mandatory for smartphone makers to preload a state-run cyber safety app on new phones after a public furore.

The order gave smartphone makers 90 days to pre-load new phones with its new Sanchar Saathi app which could not be disabled or restricted, sparking privacy and surveillance concerns.

The government argued the move was necessary to verify the authenticity of handsets, but cybersecurity experts said it impinged on citizens' right to privacy.

Withdrawing the order on Wednesday, the government cited the app's increasing acceptance after reports that Apple and Samsung resisted the directive to pre-install it on their devices.

Thus far, 14 million users have downloaded the app, which assists in reporting around 2,000 frauds daily. Recent spikes in downloads included 600,000 new registrations in just one day, according to the telecom ministry.

However, the order—issued last week—prompted major backlash from cybersecurity experts and smartphone giants primarily due to its framing without prior consultation.

India's Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, addressed concerns regarding the app's potential application for snooping, assuring, Snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi safety app. The decision to retract the order was celebrated by digital advocacy groups, although they expressed the need for the publication of a formal legal direction regarding the directive.