India Mandates Anti-Fraud App on New Phones, Addresses Privacy Concerns

The Indian government has mandated that a cybersecurity app be pre-installed on all new mobile phones sold in the country. Officials moved quickly to reassure citizens they can delete the software, following concerns it could enable state surveillance. On Friday, the Ministry of Communications ordered all phone manufacturers and importers to factory-load the "Sanchar Saathi" app. The directive aims to help curb cyber fraud by making the app readily accessible on devices. The government states the app helps users verify their phone connections, block lost or stolen phones, and identify fraudulent calls. Critics, however, raised immediate privacy concerns about the software being installed by default. In response, the government clarified that the order only requires the app to be pre-loaded. It emphasized that individuals retain the right to remove the application from their personal devices after purchase.