The Indian Government is reviewing a telecom industry proposal to force smartphone manufacturers to enable satellite-based location tracking for “better surveillance”, according to a Reuters report. Notably, Apple, Google and Samsung have reportedly opposed this mandate, citing privacy concerns.
Some Context:
This development comes on the heels of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) mandating the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app for all smartphone manufacturers selling their phones in India.
Notably, this mandate had raised significant privacy and user-choice concerns, especially as Rule 7(B) stated that “its (Sanchar Saathi’s) functionalities are not disabled or restricted”: effectively making uninstalling or disabling the app impossible. However, on December 3 the government withdrew its earlier directive.
Now, the government is seeking to require smartphone manufacturers to enable satellite-based location tracking for “better surveillance”. This move would give authorities access to far more precise location data than what is available through cellular tower triangulation, which only estimates a user’s location and cannot deliver the hyper-specific accuracy of GPS-level data.
Apparently, the Modi-led regime has been concerned about imprecise location data that its agencies receive when they make legal requests during investigations. In this light, the Indian Government is reviewing the telecom industry’s proposal to make high-precision satellite-based location data a default in all smartphones.
To achieve this, the smartphones have to deploy A-GPS technology, which can use both satellite signals as well as cellular data, according to the proposal sent by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), to the IT Ministry.
Despite such matters apparently falling under the purview of the Communications Ministry and the DoT, the Union Home Ministry scheduled a meeting for today, which was ultimately postponed.
Govt’s Wish For Precise Location Tracking Goes Back To 2010
For context, Indian Governments have been trying to get their hands on more precise location data since at least 2010. The then Indian government sent a notice to Indian telecom operators, asking them to sharpen their ‘location awareness’. To explain, the DoT back then told telecom operators to implement the “Location Based Service” to an accuracy of 100 metres, and gradually increase it to 50 metres.
It is important to note that the DoT notice asked for the implementation of this notice time frame for specific states like “States of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and the North-East Service Area,” which are often prone to conflicts due to terrorist and secessionist activities, including Naxalism-related activities.
What is A-GPS Technology?
A-GPS stands for Assisted GPS, which is often used in the aviation sector for its navigational precision and accuracy, along with logistics, fleet management and emergency services, besides the usual navigation and mapping apps.
According to the blog post by NovoTech, “Its (A-GPS’s) application is rapidly expanding into new areas, from smart city infrastructure to personal fitness devices, highlighting its versatility and the importance of precise, reliable location data in our modern world.”
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The blog post explains that the A-GPS technology comes in handy where “traditional GPS signals may falter”, like dense urban environments or indoors. Therefore, this “cost-saving” location tracking tool enhances the functionality of traditional GPS systems by making them “more responsive, accurate, and efficient”, the blog post further explains.
Why is this a concern now?
The Indian Government can argue that improved location accuracy is needed for legitimate law enforcement, but requiring smartphone manufacturers to enable satellite-based location tracking at all times raises significant privacy concerns.
This is especially important when it is seen with often overreaching government surveillance, and spying, as well as controversial Israeli-originated Pegasus spyware that targeted over 300 individuals, including journalists, politicians and even academicians.
It is important to note that location-related data also falls under the purview of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. However, the government has exempted itself from many of the law’s obligations, making accountability difficult.
Rule 23 of the DPDP Rules, for instance, specifically requires data fiduciaries to share personal information with the government, without the need to inform about such data request to the data principal.
Such exemptions, combined with the government’s expanding surveillance measures, make the proposed mandate not only a potential threat to privacy but also an overreach into how smartphone makers design and bundle features for users. The government shouldn’t have the right to decide how the private sector conducts its business just for the sake of the government’s convenience or for “better surveillance”.
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