India Weighs Controversial Plan to Mandate ‘Always-On’ GPS for Mobile Devices

The Indian government is currently assessing a contentious proposal that could fundamentally alter the relationship between smartphone users and their privacy. Under the potential new regulations, manufacturers would be compelled to ensure that satellite-based GPS tracking remains permanently active on all handsets, effectively removing the user’s ability to disable the function. This radical shift, if implemented, would mark a significant departure from current global standards where location services are typically activated only on demand.

A Push for Precision Policing

The driving force behind this initiative is the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the industry body representing the country’s major telecommunications providers, including heavyweights like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. Their argument is rooted firmly in the mechanics of law enforcement and public safety. According to the COAI, existing methods of tracking devices—which rely on triangulating signals between mobile masts—are woefully inadequate for modern investigative needs.

The operators contend that to effectively combat crime, track stolen devices, and manage rescue operations during emergencies, authorities require location data accurate to within a single metre. This level of precision, they argue, can only be guaranteed if Assisted GPS (A-GPS) is running continuously, rather than being triggered sporadically by specific applications or emergency calls.

Erosion of Transparency

Perhaps even more alarming for privacy advocates is a secondary component of the operators’ request. Beyond the technical requirement for always-on tracking, the COAI has petitioned the government to scrap the mandatory notifications that currently alert users when a network provider accesses their location.

At present, these alerts serve as a vital transparency mechanism, allowing device owners to know when they are being monitored. If the government acquiesces to this demand, network operators could theoretically access precise coordinate data silently, leaving the user completely unaware that their movements are being logged.

Silicon Valley Hits Back

Unsurprisingly, the proposal has triggered a fierce backlash from the global technology sector. Apple, Google, and Samsung, lobbying through the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), have formally rejected the concept. In a strongly worded letter dispatched to the government in July, the tech giants warned that such a mandate would constitute a “grave regulatory overreach.”

Their opposition is based on the principle that forcing a handset to constantly broadcast its position violates fundamental tenets of user control and data privacy. Moreover, the industry has highlighted the sheer technical impracticality of the plan; constant satellite communication places an immense strain on hardware. This would lead to rapid battery drainage, a significant issue for the budget-friendly handsets that dominate the vast Indian market.

Surveillance Risks and Expert Warnings

The concerns extend far beyond battery life. Junade Ali, a digital forensics expert at the UK’s Institution of Engineering and Technology, has warned that such a mandate would effectively transform consumer smartphones into “dedicated surveillance tools.” The fear is that creating a permanent backdoor for location tracking exposes users to heightened risks of data leaks and unauthorised monitoring.

Tech companies have also raised the alarm regarding the physical safety of high-profile individuals. If precise, always-on location data were to be compromised, it could endanger military personnel, judges, corporate leaders, and journalists.

A History of Policy U-turns

This debate arises in the wake of a similar controversy that recently forced the Indian executive to retreat. The government had previously attempted to mandate the pre-installation of a state-run security application, “Sanchar Saathi,” on all smartphones, with no option for users to uninstall it. Following a global outcry regarding privacy infringement and the stifling of innovation, that order was rescinded.

This precedent has fuelled hope within the tech sector that the GPS proposal may meet a similar demise. Currently, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology are reviewing the feasibility of the plan. A scheduled consultation between officials and industry leaders was postponed last week, suggesting that a final decision is yet to be made on a policy that could redefine digital privacy in one of the world’s largest mobile markets.