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The government is reportedly reviewing a proposal that could require smartphone makers to keep satellite-based location tracking permanently switched on in all devices. According to Reuters, the big tech giants such as Google, Apple and Samsung have pushed back against the idea, raising strong privacy concerns. The discussion comes at a time when debates over digital privacy in India have intensified. Recently, the government asked smartphone companies to preload the Sanchar Saathi app. The move faced heavy criticism, leading the government to step back from the requirement.
Government agencies often struggle to get exact location information during investigations. At present, telecom operators rely on cellular tower data, which only provides an approximate idea of a user’s location. This level of accuracy is often not enough in sensitive or urgent cases. To solve this problem, the Cellular Operators Association of India has suggested enabling Assisted GPS (A-GPS) on all smartphones. A-GPS combines satellite signals with mobile network data to deliver highly accurate location information.
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If the government mandates always-on A-GPS, users would no longer be able to turn off location services on their devices. This is the primary reason tech companies are resisting the proposal. Apple, Google, and Samsung argue that permanently enabled tracking is a major risk to user privacy.
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As of now, no final decision has been made. Talks between government representatives and senior executives from smartphone brands are expected soon. Any attempt to make always-on location tracking mandatory is likely to face strong opposition from the tech industry.
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