Will location tracking be on all the time? Tech companies express concern over the government's new plan...

The debate surrounding digital privacy in India is intensifying these days. Recently, the government asked smartphone companies to pre-load the Sanchar Saathi app on all phones, but had to backtrack on the decision after facing criticism. Now, the government is once again planning a move that has raised concerns among tech companies.

The government is reportedly considering a proposal to keep satellite-based location tracking permanently enabled on all smartphones. According to a Reuters report, major tech giants like Google, Apple, and Samsung are opposing this. The companies argue that if location tracking is always on, people's privacy could be compromised.

Why is location data needed?
According to the report, investigative agencies often face difficulties in accurately locating individuals. Currently, telecom companies rely solely on data from mobile towers, which only provides an estimate and does not pinpoint the exact location. Therefore, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has suggested that Assisted GPS (A-GPS) should be kept permanently enabled on all smartphones. This would provide much more accurate location data.

Why are tech companies opposing it?
On the other hand, tech companies are opposing this proposal, arguing that if keeping A-GPS always on becomes mandatory, users will not be able to turn off their phone's location services. Google, Apple, and Samsung say this will impact people's privacy and create a constant risk of location tracking. Furthermore, they argue that it violates international privacy standards. This is why the companies are against the proposal.

Meeting between government officials and smartphone companies
However, the government has not yet made a final decision. A meeting between government officials and smartphone companies is expected soon. If the government attempts to implement a rule requiring location tracking to be always on, it is likely to face strong opposition from tech companies.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Dainik Jagran. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.