Sanchar Saathi: The flip-flop over a tracking app

India's communications ministry on Wednesday rolled back its move to make Sanchar Saathi, a lost phone tracking app, mandatory for all mobile devices.

- BY SHOUVIK DAS

The move came after pushback over concerns of surveillance even as the government said it will curb cyber fraud. But can it meaningfully crack down on digital scams? Mint explains:

1 What was the thinking behind making the app a must?

Launched in May 2023, Sanchar Saathi, developed and maintained by the department of telecommunications (DOT), allows users to voluntarily report loss or theft of mobile phones and duplication of SIM cards. In March last year, the ministry of communications expanded its usage through "Chakshu", a platform to report fraud and spam callers. On 28 November, DoT asked phone brands to mandatorily pre-install Sanchar Saathi on smartphones within 90 days. It said that "mobile handsets bearing duplicate or spoofed IMEI pose serious endangerment to telecom cybersecurity". IMEI, or international mobile equipment identity, is a unique 15-digit number that identifies each mobile device.

2 What changed?