The recent debacle on the Sanchar Saathi app has raised questions about mass user privacy as well as state-backed surveillance.

Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has mandated smartphone makers like Apple, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on their new devices to be launched in India.

The Indian government has confidentially ordered companies including Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi to preload their phones with an app called Sanchar Saathi, or Communication Partner, within 90 days.