Earlier this week, the Department of Telecommunications ordered smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices. It also told them to ensure that the app’s functionalities are not disabled. It said this would protect users from cyber-fraud and phone theft.

But within two days, the government revoked this order. It justified the withdrawal by citing a surge in acceptance of the app.

But the revocation was preceded by a tremendous pushback against the original order – from digital rights activists as well as the Opposition. They said it was an attempt to vastly expand the scope of state surveillance.

How do we contextualise this entire episode? Tune in!

Guest: Apar Gupta, founder director of Internet Freedom Foundation.

Host: G Sampath

Produced and edited by Jude Weston

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices