Apple, Google, and Samsung May Soon Activate Always-On GPS in India
India’s government is considering a proposal to require smartphone manufacturers to enable satellite location tracking on all devices permanently, which has sparked significant backlash from major tech companies, including Apple, Google, and Samsung.
The proposal, originating from the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), aims to mandate the activation of A-GPS technology, which combines satellite signals with cellular data to provide precise location information, but with the critical catch that users cannot turn this feature off.
India’s government has struggled to obtain accurate location data for criminal investigations, currently relying on cellular tower-based estimates that may be off by several meters.
The proposed always-on system would deliver precise, real-time location tracking without user control, addressing this investigative challenge but at a significant privacy cost, prompting opposition from the three tech giants.
The India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), representing both Apple and Google, submitted a confidential letter to the government arguing that the measure would constitute “regulatory overreach” and has no precedent at the global level.
This controversy arrives at a sensitive moment for India’s digital privacy landscape, following the government’s rescinding of an order requiring smartphone makers to preload a state-run cyber safety app called Sanchar Saathi due to concerns about potential government surveillance and snooping.
According to Reuters, the debate reflects a fundamental tension between national security objectives and individual privacy rights, with law enforcement agencies arguing that precise location data would improve investigation capabilities, while privacy advocates warn that always-on tracking could enable mass surveillance and abuse.
Industry experts note that no other country has implemented such mandatory device-level location surveillance, making India’s potential move unprecedented globally, and the outcome will likely shape global privacy standards and set precedents for how governments can mandate surveillance capabilities on consumer devices.
A meeting between the Home Ministry and top smartphone executives to discuss the proposal was postponed, and as deliberations continue, the outcome remains uncertain, with significant implications for the balance between national security and individual privacy rights.