Sanchar Saathi is a digital safety program created by the central government. It offers several useful services for phone users through both a mobile app and a website.
As the government moves to make the Sanchar Saathi app compulsory on all phones in India, many people on social media have started comparing it to the Pegasus spyware. That comparison is exaggerated, but the government’s order still feels sudden and heavy-handed to many. The government says the app will protect users from cyber fraud and help track lost phones. But the Congress and other Opposition parties claim this is a step toward government surveillance and have asked for the rule to be withdrawn immediately.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram wrote, “This is Pegasus plus plus,” saying that the app could allow the government to see into people’s private lives. His comments came after the Centre instructed smartphone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app — a government-built cybersecurity tool — on all new phones. For phones already sold, companies must add the app through a software update. Users will not be able to remove or change it.
Karti’s words may be exaggerated, but many people on X shared similar concerns, especially Opposition leaders and privacy advocates. The word “Pegasus,” the well-known spyware used to secretly record phone activity, quickly became a trending topic on the platform.
What Is Sanchar Saathi?
Sanchar Saathi is a digital safety program created by the central government. It offers several useful services for phone users through both a mobile app and a website.
One of its key features is Chakshu, which lets people report suspected cyber fraud. According to the Sanchar Saathi website, this early reporting helps the Department of Telecommunications stop the misuse of phone networks for online scams, financial fraud and other crimes. Users can also report unwanted commercial calls through Chakshu.
The website says Chakshu can be used to report harmful links and fake messages as well. This includes phishing links, attempts to clone a device, and malware sent through SMS, RCS, iMessage, and platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
