The Government of India has decided to withdraw an order that mandated the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi security application on all smartphones, following public outrage and privacy concerns. The order, which was contested by major companies like Apple and Google, was seen as a potential mass surveillance tool. Critics, including opposition lawmakers, warned that the application could be used against dissenters and journalists. The government stated that the application is intended to help citizens in case of theft or loss of phones, but confirmed that installation will no longer be mandatory. The Minister of Communications emphasized that the application can be deleted by users, and the decision to revoke the order was welcomed by online rights groups. The Internet Freedom Foundation called for caution, awaiting clear legal details.
Sources
India retrage ordinul de preinstalare a unei aplicații guvernamentale pe toate telefoanele cetățenilor. Pentru ce era Sanchar Saathi
India revokes order for smartphone makers to install government security app amid uproar over privacy
Sanchar Saathi: India scraps order to pre-install state-run cyber safety app on smartphones
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