India Proposes Draconian Smartphone Surveillance Measures

India's government is reportedly considering new surveillance measures that would mandate smartphones to maintain constant GPS tracking. According to 9to5Mac, this proposal follows the government's recent decision to abandon a requirement for a state-run security app to be preloaded on devices.

The new plan, driven by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), suggests that always-on Assisted GPS (A-GPS) technology be implemented to improve the precision of location data for law enforcement investigations.

Currently, A-GPS is only activated in emergencies, but under this proposal, location services would be permanently enabled without user opt-out options. Engadget notes that major tech companies like Apple, Google, and Samsung oppose this move, citing it as a regulatory overreach with significant privacy implications.

The India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA) has described the proposal as unprecedented and a potential threat to the privacy of individuals, including sensitive figures like military personnel and journalists.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has also raised alarms, warning that such measures could allow law enforcement to track individuals without due process. A meeting between the government and smartphone industry representatives to discuss these proposals was postponed, indicating ongoing tensions regarding privacy and security in India.