The Indian government has reversed its decision to mandate the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on new mobile devices, following public and political backlash over privacy issues. As of December 3, the app is now optional, allowing users to delete it at any time. The Sanchar Saathi app, designed to combat online fraud and track lost or stolen devices, has been downloaded 14 million times and has helped trace 2.6 million devices since its launch. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia assured the public that the app does not monitor calls, location, or microphone data, emphasizing respect for user choice.