Always-On Phone Tracking? Apple, Google, Samsung Raises Red Flags

India is reviewing a proposal that could significantly change how smartphone location tracking works in the country. According to internal documents and people familiar with the discussions, the government is evaluating whether phone makers should be required to keep satellite-based location tracking switched on at all times, Reuters reported. 

This idea has raised strong objections from tech giants such as Apple, Google and Samsung, who say the move raises serious privacy and security concerns. The debate comes just days after the government withdrew an order asking smartphone makers to preload a state-run cyber safety app on all devices. That decision had already raised alarm about potential snooping, prompting the government to pull it back.

Why Is This Being Considered?

For years, law enforcement agencies in India have felt that they do not receive accurate real-time locations during investigations. Telecom operators currently rely on cell tower data, which only provides an approximate area and can be off by several meters.

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents major players like Jio and Airtel, has proposed enabling A-GPS (Assisted GPS) tracking by default. Unlike cell tower triangulation, A-GPS combines satellite signals with mobile networks and can pinpoint a location to within about a meter.

However, this would mean location services remain permanently active, with no option for users to disable them-something that smartphone makers argue has no global precedent.

Why Tech Giants Are Opposing It

Apple and Google, through the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), have warned that this level of tracking would turn smartphones into “dedicated surveillance devices.”

Their July letter to the government flags issues such as:

• Violation of user privacy
• National security risks for sensitive groups like military personnel, judges and journalists
• Regulatory overreach, since A-GPS was never designed for surveillance
• Samsung has also joined the objections, sources say.
• Privacy experts are equally concerned, calling the idea “horrifying” and unprecedented anywhere in the world.

Telcos argue that the current system already faces friction. When location access is requested, phones display a pop-up saying “carrier is trying to access your location.” According to telcos, these tips off the person being tracked and should be disabled. Smartphone makers disagree strongly. They believe these pop-ups are essential for transparency and that removing them would further erode user trust.