Sanchar Sathi not surveillance but ‘safety tool’; can be activated, deleted anytime, govt clarifies

Following a massive political row over the government's direction to phone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app in mobile handsets, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday, clarified that users had the option of deleting the app anytime and that it can only be activated after voluntary registration.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

"Sanchar Saathi is not surveillance," he said, describing it as a "safety tool" that was "completely democratic and fully voluntary."

The Opposition, earlier, flagged privacy concerns over the move, calling it a "snooping app" and likening it to the Pegasus spyware. They argued that citizens have a right to privacy regarding their messages, calls, and location.