While India's government pulled its demand for a preinstalled iPhone app, it's now accused of previously considering a more privacy-eroding move for always-on satellite location tracking.
At the start of December, India's government backed down from an order for Apple and other smartphone manufacturers to preinstall a state-owned cybersecurity app. While it faced intense scrutiny and claims that it was a bad move for citizen privacy, it seems a far more intrusive plan has also been under consideration.
According to sources of Reuters, India has thought about a telecom industry proposal to require smartphone producers to enable satellite location tracking. It is to be kept active, so as to better improve surveillance efforts.
Multiple sources and documents have emerged, showing that Apple, Google, and Samsung all opposed the order, over concerns for user privacy.
A bigger intrusion
In the report, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) proposed that precise user location tracking data be provided to security agencies, after the government forces smartphone makers to add A-GPS technology. This was a proposal uncovered in an internal federal IT ministry email, sent in June.
If enabled, the system would use satellite signals and cellular data to track the device. The current system relies on cellular tower data, which can only provide estimated areas for where a device is located.
By enabling A-GPS, the locations would be narrowed down from a radius of several meters to a far more accurate level. This data, the current administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes, would give security agencies more precise locations to work with.
Doing so would require the location services to be always activated in a smartphone, and not be disabled at all. Aside from being a privacy problem for consumers, doing so may also cut into the battery life of the devices too.
In response, the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) wrote a confidential letter in July on the matter. The ICEA is a lobbying group that represents both Apple and Google.
"The A-GPS network service. (is) not deployed or supported for location surveillance," the letter states. It would also be "a regulatory overreach" that greatly affects consumers.
The ICEA argued that there were significant "legal, privacy, and national security concerns" with the move, as that would also affect people in the military, judges, and journalists. Groups that would find their security at risk since they would deal with sensitive information in their normal roles.
There was also discussion about the current carrier-based system's big shortfall, as smartphone producers enable a pop-up warning users that the "carrier is trying to access your location." While the COAI wanted the pop-up to be disabled for surveillance purposes under its proposals, the ICEA wants it to stay.
Privacy should be a priority, the ICEA wrote, urging the government not to order the popups to be disabled. The popups "ensure transparency and user control over their location," it adds.
An inadvertent delay
Oddly, the more public dedicated app climbdown may have had an impact on the satellite surveillance scheme. According to report sources, the Home Ministry had scheduled to meet with smartphone industry executives on Friday, but that was postponed.
It is possible that the privacy-related outcry from the app installation directive could've spooked those involved in the ministry talks.
However, given the Indian government's interest in spying and surveillance, as well as an interest in controlling how smartphones are used, it's probable that the talks will continue once public awareness dies down more.
