India Calls Off Mandatory App Installation: A Win for User Privacy!
India’s telecoms ministry U-turned faster than a Bollywood plot twist, scrapping its order for mandatory preinstallation of the government’s Sanchar Saathi app on smartphones. The app, meant to combat cyber threats, faced backlash over privacy concerns. Now, it’s voluntary, proving that not even apps can escape the drama of Indian bureaucracy!
Hot Take:
In a plot twist that would make any thriller jealous, India’s telecoms ministry has backpedaled faster than a cyclist on a unicycle. Their attempt to force-feed the “Sanchar Saathi” app to smartphone users was met with uproar. Apparently, users don’t like being forced to swallow government surveillance pills without a spoonful of consent. Who knew? Now, the app is about as mandatory as a gym membership in January. Welcome to the age of digital democracy, where your phone is not a government hotel and your data is not free room service.
Key Points:
- India’s telecom ministry initially required preinstallation of the “Sanchar Saathi” app on new smartphones.
- The order faced backlash due to privacy concerns and lack of user consent.
- Apple’s policy against preinstalling third-party apps added fuel to the fire.
- The ministry reported 600,000 new app registrations in one day, but still rolled back the mandate.
- The app, designed to combat cybercrime, is now voluntary – much like that New Year’s resolution to eat more kale.