In this Special Report, the India Today network discusses the government’s directive to pre-install the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app on mobile phones. Cyber security expert Kanishk Gaur and Supreme Court Advocate Dr. Pawan Duggal analyze the privacy implications of the app’s extensive permissions, which include access to cameras, call logs, and messages. Gaur argues that such permissions ‘evade user privacy and trust’ and warns of potential mass surveillance in the absence of a Data Protection Act. Dr. Duggal asserts that ‘any state sponsored app is not the solution for cyber security’ and emphasizes that users must act as their own ‘digital safeguards’. The discussion highlights concerns over data misuse, the lack of public consultation, and the refusal of manufacturers like Apple to comply.
