India, Dec. 3 -- The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued instructions for the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on mobile phones. According to the Union Ministry of Communications, this measure is intended to protect citizens from purchasing counterfeit phones and to make it easier to report suspected misuse of telecom services.

These directives, issued on 28 November under the Telecom Cyber Security Act, were sent to manufacturers and importers of mobile phones intended for use in India.

The Union government's order has sparked political controversy, with several opposition leaders describing the move as "dystopian" and alleging that it will enable the Centre to "snoop" on citizens.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi V...