The Sanchar Saathi Saga: A Missed Opportunity for Cyber Safety?
Last week, whether or not the cold wave had hit the country’s capital, a heated atmosphere was certainly created in the Parliament. The main reason for this was the Central Government’s move to make the installation of the ‘Sanchar Saathi‘ app mandatory on smartphones. While the government stated, “This is for the protection of the people,” the opposition parties attacked it, calling it a “strategy to keep the people under surveillance.” Ultimately, following intense opposition, the government stepped back from its decision. In this article, I will share my opinion on what actually happened last week and how it could have been prevented.
The Utility of the Sanchar Saathi App :-
Despite the controversy, the utility of the Sanchar Saathi app cannot be denied. It is an ambitious digital initiative of the Central Government that provides three major services:
If your mobile is lost, it helps to block and trace it.It allows you to check if anyone has obtained a SIM card in your name without your knowledge.It provides an opportunity to report suspicious calls or messages directly to the government.
Background Story :-
In India, cybercrimes are taking new forms every day. The number of cybercrimes committed by opening SIM cards and/or bank accounts in your name using your Aadhaar without your knowledge is increasing day by day. To easily provide cyber safety to citizens and to prevent fraud and theft, on November 28, the Department of Telecommunications issued an order stating that “All new smartphones sold in India must have the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app pre-installed, and it must be delivered to old phones via software update.” Furthermore, reports emerged stating that it should be ensured that this app cannot be deleted.
The Parliamentary Conflict & statements :-
When the Parliament convened last week, this very issue became a major weapon for the opposition parties. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lashed out, stating, “This is a dictatorial move. This is another Pegasus strategy to snatch away the people’s right to privacy.” Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee thundered in Parliament, saying, “Forcing any app is unconstitutional.”
Government’s Justification and U-Turn :-
Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia strongly defended the government’s move inside and outside the Parliament, stating, “Opposition parties are creating unnecessary illusions. This app is solely for cyber safety and not for espionage.” According to him, even if this app is installed, it will not function unless the users register on it. He argued, “Our government is committed to the safety of the people. It is helpful for tracing lost phones and preventing fraud.”However, against the backdrop of intense pressure from opposition parties and objections from telecom companies, the order to mandatorily pre-install Sanchar Saathi was withdrawn on December 3.
My opinion on how the fiasco could have been avoided :-
Given that the number of cybercrimes in the country is increasing day by day, the government’s effort to enhance cyber safety through the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app is indeed laudable. However, their move failed here for two main reasons: not informing people beforehand about the necessity and utility of the Sanchar Saathi app, and failing to gain the trust of the people and technocrats—as was done with the Aarogya Setu app during the COVID times—that this is not an attempt to snatch away individual freedom in the name of safety.Had they taken the following measures before making it mandatory, such a huge controversy would not have arisen:
Publicize the role, necessity, and utility of the app in preventing cybercrimes and tracing lost mobiles through media and newspapers.
They should have revealed the source code of the app (Open Source) on the model of the Aarogya Setu app, which could have gained the trust of the people and technocrats.
If there are any bugs/leaks in the app, fix them through a Bug Bounty model before cyber criminals use the app to commit cybercrimes against common people.
Disclose the security audit report of the app and conduct audits regularly.
