New Delhi
Apple, Google, and Samsung are reportedly opposing a new proposal in India that would require smartphones to have location services enabled at all times. According to a Reuters report, the move has raised major concerns around user privacy and surveillance.
The proposal was submitted to the government by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents major telecom operators including Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. COAI has suggested that smartphone makers implement satellite-based Assisted GPS (A-GPS) tracking at the device level, functioning continuously without user control.
If enforced, authorities would reportedly be able to track devices with meter-level precision a significant upgrade over the broader location estimates currently sourced from mobile towers. Internal communication cited in the report claims that such capabilities could aid criminal investigations and help trace stolen devices more efficiently.
However, the proposal also calls for the removal of user notifications and opt-out options for location access elements viewed as essential to ensuring transparency and consent.
Industry groups and tech giants are pushing back. The India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), which represents companies including Apple and Google, has reportedly warned the government that similar regulations do not exist “in any other country.” Samsung has echoed these concerns.
Opponents argue that mandating always-active tracking could expose vulnerable individuals such as journalists, activists, judges, and defence personnel to unwarranted monitoring, undermining privacy rights and global data-protection standards.
While the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the Home Ministry have yet to make a decision, a stakeholder consultation is expected soon. The debate follows recent criticism of the Department of Telecommunications’ circular on mandatory installation of the Sanchar Saathi app, which was later withdrawn.
For now, India’s next move on smartphone tracking remains under close watch and likely to spark more heated discussion over balancing security and privacy.
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