Even as cybercrime losses continue to surge nationwide.

The government has consulted almost every major smartphone maker on implementing the Sanchar Saathi fraud-prevention app, but Apple did not attend the official working-group discussions, even as cybercrime losses continue to surge nationwide.

The Union government has engaged with nearly all mobile phone manufacturers to discuss the wider implementation of the Sanchar Saathi app, with Apple emerging as the only major brand absent from the working-group deliberations. Minister of State for Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani confirmed on Tuesday (December 2) that the consultations were held to address industry queries and encourage broader adoption of the app, which is aimed at combating online fraud and helping citizens trace lost or stolen devices.

Pemmasani said the app functions like any standard mobile application that users can install or delete freely. Its purpose, he stressed, is to streamline the reporting of spam calls, fraudulent messages and cybercrime incidents, while enabling the government to act swiftly on verified information.

A working group was formed and all the original equipment manufacturers were asked to raise their concerns. Apple is the only company, as far as I know, that did not participate in that working group, but all others participated," Pemmasani said.

According to industry sources, Apple will discuss the order on the Sanchar Saathi app installation and work out a middle path with them.

The company may not be able to implement the order in the current form.

Earlier, Apple had resisted supporting functions of the pesky call and SMS reporting of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) DND app. After years of deliberation, it has started supporting the Trai DND app with some restrictions.

By - Aaradhay Sharma