India is exploring a proposed move that would require smartphones to have location tracking always on, aimed at improving surveillance capabilities. This plan, now under review by the government’s telecom regulators, has drawn strong objections from Apple, Google, and Samsung due to privacy and security concerns. Experts note there is no global precedent for device-level, always-on location tracking.
The debate intensified this week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration reversed an earlier order mandating preloading a state-run cybersecurity app on all devices, following outcry from activists and politicians about potential misuse and snooping.
Under the current system, smartphones can only reveal a user’s general location through cellular-tower data, which can be imprecise by several meters. The telecom industry argues that precise, device-level location data would require enabling A-GPS technology (which uses satellite signals in conjunction with cellular data) and would need to be permanently active on all devices unless a user disables it. This stance has been backed by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, though the association says such precision should come only via government orders to activate A-GPS.
Apple, Samsung, and Google have reportedly told New Delhi that mandating constant location access would be inappropriate and would infringe on user rights, according to three people familiar with the discussions. Lobby groups representing tech firms, including ICEA (covering Apple and Google) and COAI, have warned that a live, device-wide location service lacks worldwide precedent and could amount to regulatory overreach.
Advocates for the proposal argue that enhanced tracking could help law enforcement access accurate location data quickly in investigations. Critics counter that the change would transform phones into dedicated surveillance devices, eroding privacy and increasing the risk of abuse.
If such a policy were enacted, location data could potentially be precise enough to pinpoint a user’s position to about a meter, a level of detail that many see as crossing a line into pervasive monitoring. Privacy and security researchers have described the idea as troubling and unprecedented, urging careful consideration and public debate.
As the discussion unfolds, India remains a colossal mobile market, with roughly 735 million smartphones by mid-2025, most running Android. The government’s approach to balancing security needs with individual privacy will likely set a notable example for other countries facing similar questions about device-level surveillance capabilities.
What do you think: should governments pursue tighter, always-on location tracking for greater security, or should user consent and privacy controls remain the default standard? Share your views in the comments.
