The Indian government has revoked the order for pre-installing a security application on all smartphones, following protests related to privacy.

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.