WIDER CONSULTATION NEEDED TO AVOID TECH POLICY U-TURNS

In a swift policy reversal, the Union government has revoked its order requiring all smartphones to compulsorily install the State-issued Sanchar Saathi app.

- 

The telecom department’s direction to phone companies on November 28, made public this Monday, was withdrawn on Wednesday after howls of protest over privacy concerns and the intrusive ‘Big Brotherly’ move from the State. However, another directive requiring “SIM binding’ of apps remains on the table. It means that an app would be disabled when the linked SIM is removed. It will affect those who, when travelling abroad or in network blindspots, rely on wifi to stay connected, especially through messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or Arattai. Also up in the air is the future of such apps’ business users, whose accounts are often not li