New Delhi, Dec 03 : Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday dismissed Opposition concerns that the government’s Sanchar Saathi app could be used for spying on citizens. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, he clarified that the app has no surveillance capabilities and will only be activated if a user chooses to register.
“Snooping is neither possible nor will it happen with the Sanchar Saathi safety app,” Scindia said, stressing that its sole purpose is to protect users, not monitor them.
The minister’s comments follow a political uproar after the government directed smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the app on all new devices. Scindia clarified that merely having the app on a phone does not mean it is active. “Activation is entirely voluntary. If you register, it will work; if not, it remains inactive,” he explained.
Scindia highlighted that Sanchar Saathi is designed to safeguard citizens against telecom fraud, fake mobile connections, and phone theft. The app enables users to verify IMEI numbers, report suspicious connections, and trace lost or stolen phones.
He added that the app has already aided authorities in disconnecting millions of fraudulent mobile connections and recovering numerous stolen devices, reinforcing its role as a user-protection tool rather than a surveillance instrument.