IFF Opposes Dot's Mandate for Sanchar Saathi App on Mobile Devices | AI News Digest
Analysts report that India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has mandated that all mobile devices produced or imported for use in the country must come with the Sanchar Saathi app pre-installed. This ruling, effective from December 1, 2025, is intended to address issues of IMEI fraud and bolster telecom security. However, it has sparked considerable backlash over concerns related to user privacy and personal freedom. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has vehemently opposed the directive, labeling it as overly broad and legally dubious, claiming it violates the right to privacy upheld by the Supreme Court. In response, the IFF intends to file a Right to Information (RTI) request and may pursue legal avenues, advocating for less invasive alternatives that already exist for confirming device legitimacy. The consequences of this mandate could pave the way for heightened state surveillance of personal devices in India.
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