KC Venugopal Slams DoT’s ‘Big Brother’ App Order as Unconstitutional, Seeks Immediate Rollback
Congress leader demands immediate rollback of directive mandating non-removable app
New Delhi, Dec 02 : Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal on Tuesday sharply criticised a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directive requiring telecom operators to preload a government-developed application on mobile devices that cannot be uninstalled. Calling the move “beyond unconstitutional” and a “dystopian tool,” he said it violates the fundamental right to privacy.
In a post on X, Venugopal wrote: “Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT direction is beyond unconstitutional. The Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and liberty, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution.”
He warned that a compulsory, non-removable state app could enable invasive surveillance. “A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a dystopian tool to monitor every Indian… to watch over every movement, interaction and decision of each citizen,” he added. The Congress leader accused the government of carrying out “relentless assaults on the Constitutional Rights of Indian citizens” and reiterated the demand for an immediate rollback.
The contested DoT mandatory government app directive reportedly instructs telecom operators to install the application on all devices as a default feature, raising concerns among digital-rights advocates. Critics argue that such software could potentially track users’ location, communication patterns and online behaviour without adequate safeguards.
Legal experts point to the Supreme Court’s landmark 2017 judgment that affirmed privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21, noting that any state-mandated technology allowing pervasive monitoring may face constitutional scrutiny.
Venugopal’s remarks signal a likely political and legal confrontation. Digital rights groups have echoed the concern, warning that enforcing non-removable apps could pave the way for mass surveillance and undermine public trust in government led digital initiatives.
With the Congress demanding an “immediate rollback,” the directive is set to trigger a heated national debate on privacy, civil liberties and the limits of state power in the digital age.
