India mulls mandatory always‑on phone location tracking; Apple, Google, Samsung push back

India’s government is reviewing a controversial proposal that would require smartphone makers to enable always‑on satellite‑based location tracking on all phones sold in the country. Under the plan — pushed by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) — phones would use A‑GPS (satellite signals + mobile network data) to provide authorities with precise, real‑time location data rather than relying on approximate tower‑based estimates. The proposal has sparked fierce pushback from major manufacturers including Apple, Google and Samsung, who argue that forcing always‑on tracking would violate basic privacy expectations, conflict with global norms, and expose users — from ordinary citizens to judges, journalists and military personnel — to potential surveillance. According to a confidential letter seen by Reuters, the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), representing these companies, called the idea “regulatory overreach” and noted there is no precedent anywhere in the world for such a mandate. The push for stronger tracking comes after recent privacy controversies in India. Just days earlier, the government had to withdraw an order that would have forced manufacturers to pre‑install a state‑owned cyber‑safety app on all new phones — a mandate that sparked widespread backlash over fears of government snooping. For now, no final decision has been made. A scheduled meeting between government officials and smartphone industry executives was postponed. Experts warn that if implemented, the mandate could turn smartphones into “dedicated surveillance devices” — a shift few democracies have dared to make. #privacy #surveillance #IndiaTech #digitalrights #SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM