Sanchar Sathi App: Security or Surveillance?

• Central government mandates pre-installation of Sanchar Sathi app on all smartphones by March 2026, sparking debate over security vs. privacy.
• Communications Minister clarifies the app is for user safety (blocking stolen phones, reporting fraud) and not surveillance, with optional activation.
• Sanchar Sathi features include CEIR for IMEI blocking of stolen phones and Chakshu for reporting suspicious calls/messages.
• Experts question the app's effectiveness against sophisticated fraud and raise concerns about privacy, data centralization, and potential "digital kill-switch" misuse.
• Experts suggest broader solutions are needed, including robust KYC, network-based blacklisting, and financial monitoring, as the app is only a partial solution.

Why It Matters: Mandatory government app on phones impacts user privacy and security.