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Comment by b345 | Hacker News Reader

A state intervention in the form of mandatory app installation that no user can deny is a danger, especially given that the current government has allegedly used cyber surveillance to plant "evidence" in the computers of dissidents like Stan Swamy who subsequently died in custody.

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Another anonymous id posting the usual provocative narratives and instigatory tropes.

The Govt. of India has already clarified that the app can be deactivated/deleted by the user if they don't want to keep it.

Given the huge second-hand market for mobile phones in India (especially amongst the large uneducated/unskilled subset of the populace) and their troubling use for all sorts of Scams/Frauds/Terrorism-related activities etc. you need State help to manage the problem.

GoI has not clarified anything. The Telecom Minister has only provided verbal clarification, that too, after the issue gained traction on the internet.

No need to guess/jump-to-conclusions. Read the Govt. press releases;

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2197140&re... - Does NOT say anywhere that the app cannot be unregistered/deactivated/deleted. This is what the Telecom Minister was referring to.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?id=156294&NoteI... (pdf download popup which you can cancel) - Note the following excerpts;

Democratic, fully voluntary, user-driven platform and privacy-first app, activates only with user consent.

Sanchar Saathi app puts citizens first and protects their privacy at every step. It works only with user’s consent and gives full control over its activation and use.

  Activates only after user chooses to register
  User may activate, deactivate, or delete it any time
  Designed to strengthen India’s cybersecurity without compromising privacy

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