India smartphone location tracking Apple Google Samsung alert
Source: Global Finance News
Reporter: MD Rubel Islam
Published: Dec -5 , 2025 — 9:37 PM (GMT+6)
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| Illustration showing India flag, Apple, Google, Samsung logos and surveillance camera representing the proposed always-on smartphone location tracking debate. |
Detailed News”
Exclusive: India Weighs Greater Phone-Location Surveillance; Apple, Google, Samsung Protest
Introduction: India’s Privacy Debate Intensifies
India is considering one of the most ambitious moves in digital surveillance in recent years, sparking concerns among smartphone users, tech companies, and privacy advocates globally. The government is reviewing a telecom industry proposal that could require smartphone manufacturers like Apple, Google, and Samsung to keep location tracking always on using A-GPS technology.
For years, India’s authorities have relied on cellular tower data to determine users’ locations during legal requests, but this method only provides rough estimates. The proposed plan aims to enable precise location tracking, potentially allowing authorities to locate users down to a meter.
This bold move has intensified debates over privacy, security, and user control, raising questions about how far governments should go in monitoring citizens.
Why India is Considering Device-Level Tracking
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, has suggested activating A-GPS technology on all smartphones to provide accurate location data to authorities. According to internal emails and reports, the primary goal is to allow law enforcement agencies to track suspects more effectively.
Currently, telecom companies only provide approximate location data via towers, which can be insufficient for criminal investigations or emergency situations. Device-level tracking could bridge this gap, giving authorities the ability to respond faster and with more precision.
However, critics warn that such a measure would effectively turn smartphones into dedicated surveillance devices, raising alarm among privacy advocates, tech companies, and human rights organizations. This has sparked a national conversation about digital rights, particularly concerning how governments balance security and privacy.
Apple, Google, and Samsung’s Opposition
Apple, Google, and Samsung have formally raised objections to the proposal. According to confidential letters reviewed by Reuters, these companies argue that forcing always-on location tracking:
Violates user privacy
Poses risks to national security for sensitive groups such as military personnel, judges, journalists, and corporate executives
Constitutes regulatory overreach with no global precedent
The India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), which represents Apple and Google, emphasized that mandatory tracking could create serious legal and security challenges, especially for individuals handling sensitive information. They highlighted the importance of user consent and maintaining transparent pop-up notifications when location data is accessed.
The companies argue that removing these pop-ups would make it impossible for users to know when their location data is being accessed, which could lead to privacy violations and misuse of sensitive information.
Global Context: Is India Alone?
No country has implemented device-level tracking in the manner India is proposing. Experts like Junade Ali, a digital forensics expert, warn that this could set a dangerous precedent. Similarly, Cooper Quintin from the Electronic Frontier Foundation described the proposal as “pretty horrifying.”
While Russia has mandated state-backed apps for monitoring, India’s plan is more invasive, involving continuous A-GPS tracking for all smartphone users. Experts caution that always-on location tracking could expose users to hacking, unauthorized monitoring, and other digital security risks, particularly without robust encryption and security protocols.
This raises a broader question: how can governments enhance national security without compromising individual privacy and digital freedom?
How This Affects Smartphone Users
If the proposal is implemented:
Users may lose the ability to disable location services entirely.
Pop-up notifications alerting users about location access could be removed, leaving them unaware of surveillance.
Personal user data could be accessed by authorities without explicit consent, increasing the risk of misuse.
Privacy advocates argue that such measures could undermine digital freedom, particularly for people in sensitive professions such as journalists, human rights defenders, and legal professionals. The implications are far-reaching, affecting personal security, user trust, and consumer confidence in smartphone brands.
Privacy vs. Security: The Indian Dilemma
India faces a critical challenge: balancing national security with citizen privacy.
On one hand:
Law enforcement requires precise location tracking to prevent crimes and respond effectively.
Authorities argue that this will enhance public safety and improve emergency response times.
On the other hand:
Experts warn that forcing A-GPS activation without consent is a massive intrusion on personal privacy.
Citizens may feel surveilled and lose trust in technology platforms, which could hinder the growth of India’s smartphone market.
The government’s earlier attempt to mandate a state-run app on smartphones faced strong backlash, demonstrating that citizens and activists are increasingly vigilant about their digital privacy rights.
Tech Giants Advocate for Transparency
Apple, Google, and Samsung are not opposing law enforcement entirely. Instead, they advocate for:
Preserving user consent before activating location tracking
Maintaining transparent notifications when apps or authorities access location data
Ensuring data security and compliance with international privacy standards
This stance reflects the tech industry’s commitment to protecting users while cooperating with legal authorities in a responsible and secure manner. Maintaining trust between users and technology platforms is essential, particularly in a country with over 700 million smartphone users.
Potential Impacts on India’s Mobile Market
India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market, with 735 million smartphones as of mid-2025. Android devices, powered by Google, account for over 95% of the market, with Apple iOS covering the remainder.
Mandatory A-GPS surveillance could:
Reduce consumer trust in smartphones
Discourage foreign investment in India’s tech sector
Lead to legal disputes over privacy rights and regulatory authority
If smartphone makers resist, India may need to explore alternative solutions to achieve surveillance goals without infringing on user privacy. This could include better telecom cooperation or voluntary compliance frameworks that respect user consent.
The proposal also raises significant ethical questions. Should a government have the right to make all smartphones surveillance devices? What protections will be in place to prevent data misuse?
Legal experts warn that bypassing user consent and removing pop-up alerts may violate existing privacy laws and digital rights frameworks, potentially triggering court challenges.
Furthermore, this could set a global precedent, influencing other governments to adopt similar invasive measures, which would escalate debates around digital surveillance ethics.
India’s proposed phone-location surveillance debate highlights the ongoing tension between technology, privacy, and security. While the government seeks precise location data for law enforcement, companies like Apple, Google, and Samsung stress the importance of user control and digital rights.
Experts warn that making smartphones always-on tracking devices could set a dangerous precedent, not just for India, but globally. As of now, no final decision has been made, but the conversation is a wake-up call for privacy advocates, tech firms, and policymakers alike.
India is reviewing a proposal for always-on location tracking.
Apple, Google, Samsung oppose due to privacy and security concerns.
The measure has no precedent globally.
Citizens c
ould lose control over location services.
Privacy experts emphasize transparency and consent.
India must balance national security with digital freedom.
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