New Delhi – India is requiring a new application, Sanchar Saathi, to be pre-installed on all new mobile devices sold within the country, a move aimed at bolstering national security and curbing mobile fraud. The mandate, recently implemented by the Indian government, impacts the country’s massive mobile phone market and raises questions about data privacy.
The Sanchar Saathi app allows users to block lost or stolen phones using their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, a unique identifier for each device. It also facilitates the identification and disconnection of fraudulent mobile connections. Government figures indicate the app has been downloaded over 14 million times, leading to the blocking of more than 4.2 million stolen or lost phones and the disconnection of over 30 million fake mobile connections.
According to the government, the application does not automatically collect personal details without user notification. However, its privacy policy details requests for permissions: iPhone users may be asked to grant access to their camera, photos, and files for specific functions, while Android users may be prompted to share call logs, SMS messages for registration, and access to their camera and photos to detect cellphone numbers and manage calls.
The move has sparked debate, with Apple voicing concerns regarding user privacy and security.Counterpoint Research data shows Android dominates the Indian smartphone market, holding over 95% of the market share, with Apple’s iOS comprising the remaining portion. Sanchar Saathi is currently available on both the App Store and Google Play Store.