Launched in January, the Sanchar Saathi app allowed users to check a phone’s IMEI, report lost or stolen devices, and flag suspected fraud communications. The IMEI is a unique 15-digit code that identifies a handset on mobile networks, and the government said duplicate or spoofed numbers posed a serious threat to telecom cybersecurity. It also noted that India’s large second-hand market often saw stolen or blacklisted phones being resold, leaving unsuspecting buyers at risk.
To address this, India ordered all new smartphones to come with the app pre-installed within 90 days, and made it visible during device set-up without allowing users to disable its functions. Smartphone makers were told to push the app through software updates for unsold units and submit compliance reports.
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While the government said the move would boost safety, claiming the app helped recover more than 700,000 phones, experts warned it raised privacy and surveillance concerns due to its broad permissions and non-removable design
