NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday criticised the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)'s decision to mandate pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi App on all new mobile phones, calling it a violation of privacy and a step toward authoritarian governance.
This comes as the DoT has issued a directive requiring all mobile importers and manufacturers to ensure that the app is pre-installed on new handsets within 90 days.
The Sanchar Saathi platform is intended to help users report mobile fraud, block lost devices, and verify SIM records. However, the directive has triggered debate over privacy and surveillance concerns among citizens.
Reacting to the move, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi told reporters, “It’s a snooping app. It’s ridiculous. Citizens have the right to privacy. This isn’t just about snooping on telephones — overall, they are turning this country into a dictatorship in every possible form.”