After widespread backlash and privacy concerns over the Centre's move mandating the pre-installation of state-owned Sanchar Saathi app on all mobile phones in India, the Ministry of Communications on Wednesday rolled back the order.
The government cited the application's sudden and "increasing acceptance" for the removal of the order.
"The number of users has been increasing rapidly and the mandate to install the app was meant to accelerate this process and make the app available to less aware citizens easily. Just in last one day, 6 lakh citizens have registered for downloading the App which is a 10x increase in its uptake. This is affirmation of faith by citizens on this App for protecting themselves provided to them by the Government," the Ministry of Communications said in a press release.
"Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, Government has decided not to make the pre- installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers," it added.
The move came shortly after Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia dismissed Opposition's concerns over the mandatory pre-installation of the app contributing to snoopping.
The minister also said that the government is ready to make changes to the order regarding the installation of the app in devices.
Sanchar Saathi app se "na snooping sambhav hai, no snooping hoga (snooping is neither possible nor will it happen)," he told Lok Sabha while responding to Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda's supplementary question regarding the app.
The government order, dated November 28, mandating all mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi app in all handsets to be sold in India as well as in existing devices through software update has triggered a row.
On Tuesday, Scindia said users are free to delete the app if they don't want to use it.
Concerns have been raised about possible snooping and that the app could be used to read messages that users exchange.
Asserting that the app is for the protection of people, Scindia told the Lower House that the government wants to give choices to consumers.
If a consumer has not been registered on the app, then the app will not be operational and one can also delete the app, he stated.
There have been around 1.5 crore app downloads.
With the portal and the app, 26 lakh stolen handsets have been traced, 7 lakh stolen handsets have been returned to the consumers, 41 lakh mobile connections have been disconnected and 6 lakh frauds have been blocked, the minister said.
The ministry's order also mandates mobile phone companies to ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use or device setup and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted.
