DoNER minister Scindia (File photo)

NEW DELHI: A day after a furore erupted over its decision to mandate pre-loading of state-run Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones, govt Tuesday said users are free to delete the application if they do not want to have it on their devices.Amidst concerns over violation of user privacy, communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasised that the fears were unfounded and added that the app was to protect the users from cyber frauds.Scindia asserted that there is no chance of snooping or call monitoring through the app. “It is our responsibility to make this app reach everyone. If you want to delete it, delete it. If you don’t want to use it, don’t register it. If you register it, it will remain active. If you don’t register it, it will be inactive,” he told reporters outside Parliament.Sanchar Saathi order is for phone makers, not users: GovtCommunications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Tuesday said mobile users were free to delete Sanchar Saathi app if they wished. However, the department of telecom’s Nov 21 order mandates the pre-installation of the app on phones under the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, and its further amendments. Not doing this will lead to action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024 (as amended).Also, the govt order had instructed manufacturers to “ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible … and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted”.However, govt sources said the phrase is a direction to manufacturers, not a restriction on users.“It simply means manufacturers must not hide, cripple or pre-install a non-functional version of the app and later claim compliance. Nowhere it has been mentioned in the above clause that the Sanchar Saathi app cannot be uninstalled by the end user. It is up to the citizen if he wants to enable and register Sanchar Saathi or wants to uninstall it. Users remain free to uninstall or delete Sanchar Saathi if they do not wish to use it, as clearly clarified by the govt,” the govt sources said.The move has already seen critics find a parallel to a similar mandate issued by the Russian govt in Aug, requiring pre-installation of state-backed messaging app, MAX.The Union communications minister said there have been more than 1.5 crore downloads of the Sanchar Saathi app, over 2.7 crore fraudulent mobile connections have been disconnected, and around 20 lakh stolen phones have been traced.Attempt to snoop on citizens, says CongCongress called the directive on installation of Sanchar Saathi app in phones as another attempt by BJP to snoop on citizens, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge citing Modi govt’s “record” of “Pegasus snooping” when it “hacked” the telephones of opposition leaders, judges, journalists and even Union ministers. Kharge said, “Why does the Govt want to know what citizens talk about with their family and friends?” Demanding a rollback , AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said, “Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT directive is beyond unconstitutional.”Global mobile giants concerned over moveThe govt’s diktat to mobile phone makers to mandatorily pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app has raised alarm bells among top global players such as Apple, Samsung and Google. While not officially commenting on the matter, the companies are looking to take up the matter with govt representatives directly, while also raising it through industry body ICEA.“This is a violation of user privacy and also makes the devices susceptible on the cyber security front. We are concerned about this, and will take it up,” said an executive at one of the companies