‘Sanchar Saathi’ controversy & the importance of data privacy.

The Indian government’s app, Sanchar Saathi, recently faced intense controversy. While it was designed to prevent theft and fraud, cybersecurity experts raised concerns over potential data surveillance and extensive data collection [BBC, 2025-12-02]. Even Apple reportedly resisted complying with the mandate, citing privacy concerns.

This raises an important question: How should an app collect data responsibly while still benefiting its users?

Here are some core practices every app should follow to protect user privacy:

1. Follow Privacy by Design and build privacy into the app from the start.

2. Collect only the data the app really needs.

3. Set the most private options as the default for all users.

4. Protect sensitive data with strong encryption, both when stored and when sent.

5. Ask for only the permissions the app truly requires, like a camera app asking only for camera access.

6. Check third-party tools, like ads or analytics, to make sure they don’t take extra information.

7. Always tell users clearly what data is collected and how it will be used.