What is Sanchar Saathi? Government mandated app that could come with your phone

The Indian Ministry of Communications has announced a significant new initiative requiring major smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, and Oppo, to pre-install a state-sponsored cybersecurity application named Sanchar Saathi on all new devices. According to reports from Reuters, companies will have a 90-day window to comply with this order, which mandates that users cannot disable the app. For smartphones already in the supply chain, manufacturers are expected to integrate the app through software updates. This directive was reportedly communicated privately to the companies, rather than being made public. Sanchar Saathi is an evolution of an earlier government portal launched in May 2023. The app, which was made available in January, is designed to assist users in reporting and protecting against mobile-related fraud and theft across both Android and iOS platforms. Once installed, users can block lost or stolen phones on all telecom networks in India, allowing law enforcement to trace the devices whenever they are used. Additionally, the app features a 'Chakshu' option that enables users to report fraudulent calls, SMS, or WhatsApp messages. Users can also verify all mobile numbers registered under their name and flag any unauthorized connections. The 'Know Your Mobile' (KYM) feature allows individuals to check the authenticity of their smartphones. The government's push to pre-install Sanchar Saathi aims to address serious cybersecurity threats associated with duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which have been linked to scams and misuse of telecom networks. Since its launch, the app has been downloaded over five million times and has reportedly contributed to the blocking of more than 3.7 million stolen or lost devices, as well as the termination of over 30 million fraudulent connections.