The decision of the Centre to make the smartphone makers preload the Sanchar Saathi app in all new devices triggered a wave of privacy concerns. Critics have pointed out that such a move could give the platform deep, system-level access to user data, for which ordinary apps cannot get without consent.
The directive, issued under the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules 2025, applies to every new smartphone model sold in India.
Why the order Has Sparked a Privacy Debate
The IFF cautioned that mandatory installation effectively turns every new smartphone into a device carrying “state-mandated software” which users cannot meaningfully refuse or delete.
IFF’s concern is simple:
If Sanchar Saathi is to become a system app, it would have to enjoy root-level privileges much like carrier or OEM apps do. That level of access could conceivably circumvent the controls that prevent one app from reading another’s data.
According to privacy researchers, this structure has the potential to create a permanent point of access within the operating system, which users cannot disable.
What Sanchar Saathi Does
Sanchar Saathi was launched earlier this year, and is available on both Android and iOS.
Its features include:
reporting lost or stolen phones
checking mobile numbers linked to a person
fraud calls and SMS blocking
verifying whether an IMEI is authentic
After intense criticism, the Communications Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, said users would be allowed to delete the preloaded app. It is not specified whether deletion removes system privileges or not.
What Data the App Can Access
On Android devices, the app requests permissions that overlap with those of system-level services. These include:
Reading and sending SMS.
accessing call logs
check phone identity, IMEI and serial number
checking whether a call is active
reading network status
using mobile data and WiFi
Writing to external storage
Scanning IMEI barcodes using the camera.
Many popular apps, like Truecaller, Amazon, or Zomato, also request sensitive permissions. The difference is that users can revoke those permissions because they are classified as user apps.
If Sanchar Saathi ships as a system app, these permissions might not require explicit approval and might not be removable.
Why Experts See Red Flags
Some permissions are essential for core functions such as device verification or fraud call blocking. But other concerns emanate from the way the app has been designed:
It can auto-register phone numbers on Android without user action.
It is capable of sending automatic registration SMS to the DoT.
Its privacy policy lacks clarity on data deletion and retention.
Users cannot request corrections to stored data.
There is no opt-out mechanism.
Smartphone manufacturers said compliance might involve “major” system-level changes.
The company behind the app also says it doesn’t collect personally identifiable information. But privacy advocates note some gaps between what the app promises and the permissions it seeks.
What About iPhone Users?
Apple’s closed ecosystem limits what apps can access.
On iPhones:
Sanchar Saathi cannot auto-send SMS; instead, users have to press “send.”
It cannot read SMS, call logs, or phone numbers.
It cannot manage calls or view IMEI without user action.
It can access the camera, photos, and files if permitted.
While iOS users are still more secure, they are not left unscathed.
Why the Concerns Matter
This debate is not about the stated purpose of the app-to combat fraud, protect lost devices, and make telecom safer-but one of design, transparency, and consent. An otherwise well-intentioned government-mandated system app with deep access creates structural risks.
Without clearly defined limits, deletion options, or independent audits, privacy advocates worry the system could evolve into a tool for surveillance or over-collection. The controversy serves to underscore a larger question, as negotiations take place among smartphone makers, privacy groups, and the government over the next steps: How much access to a citizen’s personal device should any required digital infrastructure have?
FOR MORE: https://civiclens.in/category/national-news-civiclens-in/
About the Author
1 thought on “Sanchar Saathi on All Smartphones? What the Govt-mandated app can access on your device”