Tech Giants Oppose India’s Mandatory Smartphone Tracking Proposal
Apple, Google, and Samsung are pushing back against a controversial proposal from India's telecom industry that WOULD require permanent satellite-based location tracking on all smartphones. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing major carriers like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, seeks to implement A-GPS technology for meter-level precision—far surpassing current cellular tower tracking capabilities.
This marks the second recent clash over digital privacy in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government previously withdrew a mandate for pre-installed, undeletable security apps after public outcry over surveillance concerns. The tech giants' resistance highlights growing tensions between national security objectives and individual privacy rights in one of the world's largest smartphone markets.
