Pressmediaofindia
Related Articles
10-12-2025
Bureau Report + Agencies
NEW DELHI/ BENGALURU: Amnesty International has said India’s review of a telecom industry proposal to mandate always-on satellite location tracking on phones for better lawful surveillance was “deeply concerning” and puts data of human rights defenders at risk.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has long pushed telecoms companies to give more precise locations of individuals under investigation.
The telecoms operators say the best way to achieve this would be for the government to order smartphone manufacturers to permanently enable location tracking on phones. Media reported on Friday that the government is reviewing that proposal.
The discussions are being privately opposed by big smartphone firms Apple, opens new tab, Google, opens new tab and Samsung, opens new tab, due to privacy and security concerns.
In a statement to media, Amnesty International said location data can be “incredibly revealing” and can expose personal and professional connections, such as the confidential sources who meet journalists or human rights groups.
“This is deeply concerning. At a time where surveillance scandals are a mushrooming global threat, states should be working on improving their practices and safeguards, not forcing people to reveal yet more sensitive data,” Amnesty said.
India’s IT and home ministries, which are reviewing the plan, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday about the backlash.
Amnesty has in the past denounced India’s surveillance practices including alleged use of Pegasus spyware to target journalists and activists, allegations Modi’s government has repeatedly denied.
A fierce privacy debate erupted in India last week after media’s first reported another confidential directive from the government to preload a state-run cyber safety app on all smartphones. India was forced to revoke the order following outcry from activists and politicians over fears of snooping.
“Why are we out to convert India into a ‘Surveillance State’?” Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said on social media, criticizing the proposal to track phone locations.
A large number of Indian users on social media joined Surjewala and other privacy activists to condemn the plan, with one user framing it as turning phones into “digital ankle monitors”.
Earlier, India on Wednesday withdrew a mandate requiring smartphone makers to preload a state-owned cyber safety app called Sanchar Saathi on all new devices following an outcry over fears of government snooping in the world’s most populous nation.
Currently available in Apple and Android app stores, Sanchar Saathi is billed as a citizen-centric safety tool. It allows users to block and track lost or stolen mobile phones using the device’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), which is a unique code for the handset.
It also enables users to check how many mobile connections are registered under their name, helping to identify and disconnect fraudulent numbers used in scams.
Additional features include tools to report suspected fraudulent calls and verify the authenticity of used devices before purchase.
On November 28, India’s telecom ministry privately asked all smartphone manufacturers to preload their new devices with the app, stating that it must be “visible, functional, and enabled” upon first setup. Media was first to report on the move on Monday.
