India’s telecom body has proposed that all smartphones should have GPS active at all times. They said this would help police and emergency teams locate people more quickly and accurately. The plan has also suggested the use of satellite-based GPS instead of relying only on mobile towers. This would give precise location data, down to a few metres for safety and security purposes.
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Will Users Be Able to Switch Off GPS?
Under the proposal, users would not be able to turn off GPS at any time. The service would run continuously in the background. Phone makers said this went against current privacy rules that allow people to choose when to share their location. They argued that control should remain with the user.
Will This Affect Users’ Privacy?
Yes, privacy was the biggest concern raised by both companies and experts. They said real-time GPS could allow authorities to track people’s movements without clear limits. It could also change how location data is stored and who could request it. Many warned that strong legal checks would be needed if the rule ever moved forward.
According to Reuters, leading tech firms like Google, Apple and Samsung have rejected the proposal. They have warned that it could compromise user privacy.
Does This Apply to Only New Phones or All Phones?
If approved, the rule was expected to apply to all smartphones sold in India. It was not clear whether older models would need changes through software updates. Some experts believed only new devices might support constant GPS without heavy battery use. Others said applying it to all phones could be difficult.
The always-on GPS proposal in India is still under review. No final decision has been made as of now. Users will continue using their phones as usual until the government announces any rules.
