In an effort to curb the rising cases of cybercrime in the country, a recent government directive has sparked widespread controversy. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has instructed smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app on all new mobile phones sold in India. The directive has triggered strong reactions from political parties and digital rights organisations.

Opposition parties have alleged that the move violates citizens’ privacy and personal freedom. Samajwadi Party MP and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav criticised the government, calling the decision a step toward authoritarian rule. He questioned “Does the government want to monitor what people have in their phones? Is this an attempt to implement a surveillance policy like North Korea?”

Similarly, Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the decision a direct attack on civil liberties. He said no democratic nation forces citizens to install an app without consent. The AAP has demanded that the order be withdrawn immediately, calling it a “dictatorial move.”

So far, the central government has not issued a detailed response to the criticism. However, Union IT and Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently defended the app, claiming that Sanchar Saathi has proven effective in preventing cyber fraud and mobile theft. According to him, the platform has helped track 2.6 million mobile phones and block 723,000 suspicious numbers so far.

The government maintains that the app is designed to protect citizens from fraud and misuse of telecom services, and is a significant step toward strengthening digital security. The opposition, however, argues that the government has not clarified whether users will have the option to uninstall the app.

Digital rights experts have also expressed concern, stating that a mobile phone is a citizen’s personal space, and making a government app mandatory creates the possibility of future mass surveillance.

The next steps of the government and the response from the telecom industry will determine whether the directive proceeds as planned or is reconsidered. Until then, the issue remains at the centre of an intense political and technological debate.