A-GPS: The Indian government is now considering a proposal under which smartphone companies can be forced to always keep active satellite location tracking i.e. A-GPS on. This step is being said to increase the investigative capacity of government agencies, but big companies like Google, Apple and Samsung are opposing it considering it a serious privacy threat. This information has come from Reuters report and many sources.

Why does the government need exact location?

Till now the investigating agencies are able to obtain only mobile tower based location from telecom companies which is very approximate and not accurate. In many cases, this incomplete data becomes the biggest obstacle in detecting criminals.

For this reason, the Cellular Operators Association of India suggested that it would be possible to provide accurate location only if the government orders smartphone companies to make A-GPS technology mandatory. A-GPS uses both satellite signals and mobile data to provide extremely precise location, down to a metre.

The option to turn off location may also disappear

If this rule is implemented then users will not be able to turn off the location service in their phones. This would mean that the phone will continuously send its location whether you want it or not. Google, Apple and Samsung say that such a mandatory rule would be a serious violation of privacy and should not be implemented.

What is A-GPS surveillance?

A-GPS i.e. Assisted Global Positioning System is a technology that gives fast and accurate location to your phone with the help of both satellite and mobile network. If the government makes it mandatory, your smartphone can always become a device that sends real-time location. With this, not only government agencies, but also permitted apps can create the complete location pattern of your activities, that too without your knowledge.

Why should Indian users be worried?

The biggest danger is that the option to turn off location will disappear and warnings on location access may also disappear. In such a situation, India may become one of the first countries where continuous surveillance of citizens will become legally possible. If such precise location data is used uncontrolled, serious problems like stalking, profiling, tracking of personal habits and surveillance of people in sensitive positions can arise.

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