India considers mandating always-on GPS, facing tech giants' privacy concerns.
The Indian government is considering a proposal from the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) to mandate that smartphone manufacturers enable always-on Assisted GPS (A-GPS) for precise satellite location tracking, which has sparked opposition from major tech firms like Apple, Google, and Samsung. These companies argue that the proposal poses significant privacy and security risks, potentially making devices tools for constant surveillance, especially concerning military personnel and other sensitive individuals. The government has faced backlash over privacy issues, including a recent withdrawal of an order requiring a state-run cyber safety app. The proposal remains under review by India’s IT and home ministries, with tech companies urging for user transparency and protection of current data safeguards.
