Expert OpinionRegulatory/PolicySector Analysis

'India Weighs Greater Phone-Location Surveillance; Apple, Google And Samsung Protest' - Reuters Exclusive

BenzingaDecember 05, 2025 at 8:50 AMFull Content
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Gist

India's proposed always-on phone location tracking sparks opposition from Apple, Google, and Samsung over privacy and security concerns, following a recent reversal of a similar app mandate.

LLM Summary

India is reviewing a telecom industry proposal to mandate always-on satellite location tracking on smartphones for enhanced surveillance, which Apple, Google, and Samsung oppose due to privacy risks. This follows the government's reversal of an order requiring preloaded state-run cyber safety apps amid public outcry over potential surveillance.

Full Article Content

- India reviews telecom industry proposal for always-on location tracking

- Apple, Google, Samsung oppose due to privacy, security concerns

- No precedent for such device-level location tracking, experts say

- India this week revoked an order requiring state-run app in phones

India's government is reviewing a telecom industry proposal to force smartphone firms to enable satellite location tracking that is always activated for better surveillance, a move opposed by Apple, Google and Samsung due to privacy concerns, according to documents, emails and five sources.

A fierce privacy debate erupted in India this week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government was forced to rescind an order requiring smartphone makers to preload a state-run cyber safety app on all devices after activists and politicians raised concerns about potential snooping.

Metadata

Author:
Benzinga Newsdesk
Tickers:
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Updated At:
December 05, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Benzinga Channels:
News
Teaser:
India reviews telecom industry proposal for always-on location trackingApple, Google, Samsung oppose due to privacy, security concernsNo precedent for such device-level location tracking, experts sayIndia this week
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AAPL (NASDAQ), GOOG (NASDAQ), GOOGL (NASDAQ), INDA (BATS), SSNLF (OTC)
Benzinga Article ID:
49225995