After Sanchar Saathi Row, Is India Weighing Tougher Phone-Tracking? IFF Flags Concern

Sanchar Saathi Row Sparks Concerns Over Phone Tracking in India

The government’s recent directive to smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all phones sold in India triggered a major uproar. The app — introduced by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) — aims to help citizens block or track lost or stolen phones (via IMEI), verify handset authenticity, report fraudulent SIMs or suspicious calls/SMS, and prevent telecom fraud. 

Under the 2025 directive, makers were given 90 days to comply, including for used devices via updates — a sweeping move that many saw as mandatory and non-removable. 

Although the government later clarified that users may delete the app if they wish, the initial push and tone caused alarm.

Push for More — from Tower-Based to Satellite-Assisted Tracking

In the backdrop of this row, new reports suggest that the government is now exploring even tougher phone-tracking measures. According to a recent media report, discussions have begun around making satellite-assisted mobile phone tracking mandatory for law enforcement and disaster-management uses. 

Proponents argue that satellite-based tracking would give far more accurate real-time location data than the existing tower-based methods — potentially useful for locating lost/stolen devices or for security operations. 

However, such a step would mark a dramatic expansion of state surveillance capacity: rather than just blocking stolen phones, the state could, in theory, pinpoint a user’s location at all times.

Why Privacy Advocates and Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) Are Alarmed

Digital-rights groups and civil-liberties advocates have reacted sharply. The Amnesty International described the government’s review of satellite-tracking plans as “deeply concerning.” They warned that continuous location data collection could reveal sensitive patterns — such as meetings between journalists and confidential sources or human-rights defenders — undermining privacy and free speech. 

The IFF, for its part, has publicly challenged the mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi, filing Right to Information (RTI) requests with DoT to demand transparency about the directive and its justification. 

Critics worry that a smartphone could transform into a permanent tracking device — with minimal oversight, user consent, or judicial oversight. That fear is even stronger with satellite-based tracking on the table.

Read More : Best 55-inch Android TV: A Complete Guide to Smart Viewing Comfort

Government Response and What Has Changed So Far

In response to the backlash, the government has softened its stance. The pre-installation directive for new phones has reportedly been retracted — meaning Sanchar Saathi is no longer mandatory.

Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified that the app is optional and users are free to delete it. 

Yet many remain skeptical. Privacy experts argue that even if “optional,” pre-installation normalizes broad access to phone data — and that revocations can be reversed. The IFF says it will continue to contest the direction unless the government provides full transparency and legal safeguards. 

Read More : Rising Satellite Numbers Pose New Challenge for Space Telescopes

What this Means for Indian Citizens — and What to Watch Next

If India moves ahead with mandatory satellite-assisted phone tracking, the implications would extend well beyond lost or stolen phones. Real-time or continuously logged location data could enable unprecedented state surveillance. For ordinary citizens, this raises risks of privacy intrusion, potential misuse, and chilling effects on freedom of association and expression.

On the other hand, supporters argue such measures could significantly curb phone theft, telecom fraud, and improve public safety.

Going forward, key developments to watch include:

• Whether the government formally proposes and enacts a mandate for satellite-based tracking.
• What legal safeguards (if any) accompany such a move — e.g. court oversight, consent rules, deletion rights.
• Responses from smartphone manufacturers and tech companies.
• Public pushback, legal challenges, and civil-society mobilization led by groups like IFF and Amnesty.
• Broader debates over digital privacy, rights, and the balance between security and freedom.
  

We’re now on WhatsApp. Click to join. 

Like this post?
Register at One World News to never miss out on videos, celeb interviews, and best reads.