NEW DELHI: A new controversy seems to be building up over discussions within the govt for a satellite-assisted location tracking of mobile phone users for the need of law-enforcement agencies and disaster management officials. The matter, which has been in discussions for over five years now, had seen a suggestion by mobile phone operators lobby, COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India), that the govt order compulsory activation of A-GPS (Assisted GPS) technology, which uses satellite and mobile data for giving accurate and accelerated location of an individual. However, no action has been taken on the matter by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) which had been conducting the discussions with the industry – both mobile operators as well as device makers. Currently, mobile operators provide location of individuals by tracking users through mobile towers which lack pin-pointed accuracy, while also being delayed in giving the coordinates. Sources said the matter has been in discussions for over five years, but not much has progressed around its implementation over issues related to user privacy as well as reluctance of device makers such as Apple and Samsung over a mandated activation. The device makers argue that user consent needs to be taken before activation of pin-pointed satellite-based location tracking. Also, they have expressed fears that other service providers, and even hackers, may misuse the always-on location tracking services, violating user privacy. The issue, however, came to the fore at a time when the govt rescinded on a plan to mandate pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app after outcry over possible state surveillance as well as user privacy violations. In this case too, global manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung had sounded out the department of telecom – which had issued the order of pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app – of their objections to the measure, citing user privacy. “The issue about satellite-assisted tracking is an old one, and has been in discussions for years after demands made to this effect by law enforcement agencies and disaster management authorities. The agencies felt that a faster, and more accurate location, will help immensely in pinpointing the exact location of individuals,” a source said. However, the source added,” No decision has been taken on the matter. There has been no direction from the govt.” COAI has members such as Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea. The device makers have been represented by India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA).
