3 Things Sanchar saathi app row, Pak couples detained, and five workers rescued
10 snips
Dec 4, 2025 Swamirendra Barik, a journalist from The Indian Express specializing in digital policy, dives into the controversy surrounding the Sanchar Saathi app, exploring its privacy issues and regulatory backlash. Brendan Dabhi, also from The Indian Express, shares the dramatic story of two Pakistani couples who crossed the Rann of Kutch in search of love, detailing their perilous journey and the subsequent investigations. The discussion wraps up with insights on stranded Jharkhand workers' repatriation efforts from Cameroon.
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Sanchar Saathi's Core Purpose
- Sanchar Saathi began as a web portal to report scam calls, check IMEIs and block lost phones.
- The app packages those features into a mobile interface to file complaints and block devices quickly.
Mandate To Preinstall Sparked The Row
- The November 28 directive required manufacturers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi on all new phones and push updates to existing devices within 90 days.
- It also barred makers from 'disabling or restricting' the app and demanded compliance reports within 120 days.
Consent And Function Creep Fears
- Critics said the mandate violated basic consent by forcing an app onto users' phones and raised fears of future function creep.
- Past surveillance allegations (like Pegasus) amplified public mistrust of a government-mandated app.