The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued instructions to all the mobile handset makers and importers to pre-install the cybersecurity App 'Sanchar Sathi' on mobile phones, effective from November 28.
The DoT has also directed mobile manufacturers as well as importers to finish the implementation within 90 days and submit a report within 120 days.
The issue of 'Sanchar Saathi' pre-installation on smartphones has erupted into a major political controversy, with the Opposition calling it a "brazen misuse" of state power for "breaching" citizens' privacy, with some even dubbing it a snooping app.
There are claims that Sanchar Sathi App cannot be deleted from your phone. As a result, the Modi Government has yet again come under the scanner with netizens as well as opposition calling it breach of privacy.
Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday reacted to the claims around Sanchar Sathi App.
Speaking to the media, Scindia noted that keeping the app is up to individuals, and it can be deleted from smartphones.
"If you don't want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it. It is optional... It is our duty to introduce this app to everyone. Keeping it in their devices or not is up to the user," the Union Minister said.
He also added that the "platform does not enable snooping or call monitoring".
True Scoop also rechecked the claims by installing the app, registering it and then deleting the app from mobile phone.
Sanchar Saathi is a citizen-centric initiative of the DoT to empower mobile subscribers, strengthen their security and increase awareness about citizen-centric initiatives of the Government.
Sanchar Saathi, available in the form of the Mobile App and web portal, provides a host of services including blocking lost or stolen mobile handsets, confirming the genuineness of mobile handsets, flagging international numbers calling with Indian numbers, and informing users about their verified internet service provider.
It also has 'Chakshu' features, which inform users about suspected fraud, malicious weblinks and unsolicited communication.
With inputs: IANS