Sanchar Saathi Explained: Optional Safety Tool Or Growing Privacy Concern? Features, Impact And What The Centre Clarified
Government says Sanchar Saathi only fights cybercrime, doesn't track users, amid rising political debate, consumer anxiety and calls for clearer app guidelines.
Published : December 2, 2025 at 5:48 PM IST
|Updated : December 2, 2025 at 9:02 PM IST
By Surabhi Gupta
New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday addressed public anxiety about the Sanchar Saathi mobile application. Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified that the app is optional and cannot be used as a surveillance tool, aiming to reassure the public about its intended purpose, improving user cybersecurity, not monitoring.
The Minister's comments come amid political, consumer, and industry concerns regarding the core function and intent of the Sanchar Saathi app.
He stated, “The app is completely optional. If you want to delete it, delete it. If you don’t want to use it, don’t register. If you register, it stays active; if not, it remains inactive.”
To clarify, what is the Sanchar Saathi app, and how does it function?
What Is The Sanchar Saathi App?
The Sanchar Saathi App, launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in January 2025, serves as a targeted citizen cybersecurity tool. It complements the earlier Sanchar Saathi portal and centres on four main protective features.
- Blocking and tracing lost or stolen phones: Users can blacklist a missing device by its IMEI, rendering it unusable across all telecom networks.
- Identifying fraudulent SIMs in a person’s name: The app displays all numbers issued under a user’s ID, helping detect unauthorised or forged-KYC SIM cards.
- Verifying the authenticity of a handset: It allows users to check whether the IMEI belongs to a genuine manufacturer or a counterfeit device.
- Reporting scam, spam, or suspicious calls: These reports are routed to DoT and enforcement agencies.
The Impact Of The App So Far
According to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
- More than 7,00,000 lost phones have been recovered so far.
- 50,000 phones were traced in October alone.
- 3.7 million stolen/lost devices blocked.
- 3 crore+ fraudulent SIM connections disconnected.
- 5 million+ app downloads.
The Sanchar Saathi App is available in 22 regional languages.
The DoT has described Sanchar Saathi as a frontline defence, recently stating on X (formerly Twitter): "Your trusted digital companion, offering a unified platform to protect your mobile identity."
'Initiative Is A Positive Shift'
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Professor Bejon Kumar Misra, International Consumer Policy Expert & Founder of Consumer Online Foundation, said the initiative marks a positive shift. “It is the right move to build credibility, integrity and safety to tackle the menace of financial fraud and cybercrime. Now, the Government is accountable for protecting consumers. This will assure safety and surveillance on criminal activities and assure us protection against crime and unfair trade practices.”
He added that, with such tools, the government bears responsibility if system vulnerabilities lead to financial losses or crime.
Consumer groups emphasise the need for clear safeguards to ensure public trust, especially regarding whether the app will remain user-controlled and removable.
Industry Seeks Clarity
Smartphone manufacturers are waiting for detailed government guidelines. Industry sources say consumers are especially concerned about:
- Preinstalled apps.
- Permissions that run in the background.
- Data access.
- Inability to uninstall system apps.
Manufacturers state they support cybersecurity goals but seek a clear policy to avoid being implicated in political controversy or public distrust. Many global smartphone makers enforce strict internal protocols and prefer users to download apps voluntarily rather than receive preinstalled versions.
Executives say they will approach the Ministry for documentation on:
- Is preinstallation required?
- Should the app be removable?
- What permissions will it seek?
Industry insiders agree that Sanchar Saathi offers security benefits, but stress that communication must reinforce its core protective mission to avoid public misunderstanding or backlash.
It Is A Crime-Fighting Tool
To address concerns, senior government officials told ETV Bharat that several public interpretations are incorrect.
According to a senior official, while there are instructions on preloading, claims that the app cannot be deleted are inaccurate. The government emphasises that Sanchar Saathi's principal goal is to enhance digital crime prevention.
Officials emphasised that the app does not have access to messages, calls, microphones, or location data. Data collection is minimal, and all sensitive actions require explicit user initiation.
They maintain that the app’s architecture follows strict data-minimisation principles, limiting what the government can see or store.
What Experts Say About the Sanchar Saathi App
Cyber experts have pushed back against misinformation surrounding the Sanchar Saathi app, emphasising that the platform is designed to empower citizens, not monitor them.
Cybersecurity specialist Mohit Yadav told ETV Bharat, "The app's biggest strength is that it simplifies what is often the most confusing part of dealing with cyber fraud: where to go first. In cybercrime, the first hour is the golden hour. People don't know whom to contact. Sanchar Saathi lets you file a complaint in seconds."
Yadav notes that the app brings together functions previously available only on the government's web portal.
"Users can report fraud attempts, check whether their phone's IMEI has been tampered with, verify unauthorised SIMs issued using their Aadhaar, and even block a lost or stolen device so it becomes unusable across networks," he added.
He said the tool is crucial for national security because fraudulent SIM cards and devices are regularly used by organised cybercriminal groups, including foreign networks.
Addressing privacy concerns, Yadav says the app itself asks for no intrusive permissions. "It doesn't seek access to photos, contacts, storage or microphone. If an app doesn't request those permissions, it cannot pull data," he said, adding that analysis of the app shows no signs of data extraction.
Anuj Agarwal, chairman of the Cyber, Data Privacy & AI Bar Association, echoes this view. He said the political controversy over preloading the app on new phones is misplaced because the government has already clarified it is voluntary and can be deleted.
"Any deletable app cannot run deep surveillance. It's technically unrealistic," he said. Agarwal stressed that Sanchar Saathi has existed for years as a public website to block stolen phones and compromised IMEIs. "It cannot be used for mass monitoring. With over a billion mobile users, the idea that the government can listen to everyone is simply impossible," he added.
Cyber law and technology governance expert Sakshar Duggal said India's diverse levels of digital literacy often shape how people perceive government-backed cybersecurity tools.
"When an app is promoted as a safety measure, some citizens may conflate digital protection with surveillance simply because they don't fully understand how such systems work. This doesn't mean the app is intrusive, but the perception gap is real, and closing it through clear communication is as important as the technology itself," he said.
Duggal noted that public trust improves when the government explains the technical limits of platforms like Sanchar Saathi. "Clarifying that the app lacks permissions to access call logs, messages or GPS data, and being transparent about what information is collected, why it is needed, how long it is retained and how users can delete their data, builds confidence," he said.
Open-source components, independent audits and transparency reports, he added, help citizens verify the system and view it as a genuine safety tool.
Cyber law expert Karnnika A Seth stressed that the app is optional. "Clear notice and consent requirements are essential. The government cannot use data beyond consent, except under Section 17 of the DPDP Act, for emergencies, national security or legal compliance," she said.
The Telecom Ministry maintained that the app's purpose is citizen protection and faster response, not surveillance. In a post on X, the Ministry said, "Sanchar Saathi App will come pre-installed, but that will not mean it’s watching you. It will not act as a surveillance tool, and it will not track your data in any way. Its only job will be to protect your mobile identity without accessing your personal information."
"Your phone stays safer, and your data always yours Sanchar Saathi does not tracks your data, even not collects it. This app just blocks fraudsters, fake SIMs, and mobile theft. Because our first priority is your privacy," the Ministry added.
Also Read:
