India Weighs Always-On Satellite Tracking For Phones: Report

The central government recently dropped its plan to make phone makers include the Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones. It is now reportedly considering a rule that would make all phones have their location tracking switched on permanently by default. According to a report by Reuters, citing documents, emails and five sources, the government is considering a proposal from the telecom sector that would require smartphones to keep satellite-based location tracking turned on at all times. The idea is to strengthen monitoring and security, but major smartphone makers like Apple, Google, and Samsung are pushing back, arguing that the decision could seriously affect user privacy.

The administration has pointed to limits in how phone locations are tracked, as telecom companies mainly depend on mobile tower signals that only show an approximate area. During investigations, this method doesn’t provide exact locations and can be off by several metres. The report, citing a June internal email from the IT ministry, said the Cellular Operators Association of India, a telecom industry body representing firms such as Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, has suggested that precise user locations should only be shared if phone makers are instructed to turn on A-GPS, a system that uses both satellite and mobile network signals.

The proposal would force smartphones to keep location services always active, with no option for users to disable them. According to Reuters, citing three sources, major phone makers have told the centre they oppose making this a requirement in India, the world's second-biggest mobile market. According to the news agency, Apple and Google, through a confidential letter sent by the India Cellular & Electronics Association, have rejected the India government’s request. The letter warned that the A-GPS system “is not designed or supported for location surveillance” and called the proposal “a regulatory overreach”.

The letter opposing the proposal highlighted concerns over legal, privacy, and national security risks. It pointed out that users include individuals such as military personnel, judges, corporate leaders, and journalists, and argued that mandatory location tracking could put them at risk because of the sensitive information they handle. Reuters reported that India’s IT and home ministries are still reviewing the proposal, but so far, none of the involved parties, including government departments, industry groups, or companies, have provided any comments.