Apple May Have to Enable Always-On GPS in India

[chmania]

And when there is benefit to both sides there generally is negotiation. Don’t you think?

There are no two sides to this; one is a government, while the other is a foreign company whose sole interest is to make as much money as possible, by any means necessary.

 

[MathersMahmood]

Canada and UK next the way things are going.

Was going to say the same thing. I’m from the UK and I bet we are next.

 

[8281]

Biden administration directly silenced people online. We don't need misinformation police. and guess what? They were masked!! ICE agents are masked because domestic liberal terrorism is at an all time high in the US.

All these people crying "authoritarianism!" for leaders just purely protecting their own citizens from actual physical threats. Meanwhile their people outright attack us with their own misinformation all over the internet as well promoting terrorism against all those who oppose.

Yeah, none of this is true and the lies, distortions, and histrionics undermine any real debate.

 

[surferfb]

Find and read the wish list, and you will see what you are already missing...especially on India...

I have read it, and am not a fan. But I also don't think the current US government's national security strategy has anything to do with what we're talking about. The letter that ICEA supposedly sent the Indian government was in June or July, it's just coming out now.

"Apple famously put their users ahead of the government's desires to force them to unlock an iPhone". If being unwilling to unlock a phone in a criminal investigation, who is Apple protecting?

Apple stated it was protecting all of its customers, even though that meant in that particular instance protecting a criminal's phone. Here is Apple's explanation at the time. I'd encourage you to read the whole thing, but I've included some choice quotes below. Any emphasis is mine:

But now the U.S. government has asked us for something we simply do not have, and something we consider too dangerous to create. They have asked us to build a backdoor to the iPhone.

Specifically, the FBI wants us to make a new version of the iPhone operating system, circumventing several important security features, and install it on an iPhone recovered during the investigation. In the wrong hands, this software — which does not exist today — would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession.

The FBI may use different words to describe this tool, but make no mistake: Building a version of iOS that bypasses security in this way would undeniably create a backdoor. And while the government may argue that its use would be limited to this case, there is no way to guarantee such control.

The implications of the government’s demands are chilling. If the government can use the All Writs Act to make it easier to unlock your iPhone, it would have the power to reach into anyone’s device to capture their data. The government could extend this breach of privacy and demand that Apple build surveillance software to intercept your messages, access your health records or financial data, track your location, or even access your phone’s microphone or camera without your knowledge.

Opposing this order is not something we take lightly. We feel we must speak up in the face of what we see as an overreach by the U.S. government.

 

[turbineseaplane]

they are already...

Pertaining to this request: this is bad from a quality perspective as it will put a considerable toll on battery life. Can't sell a 1000$ phone that only lasts half a day. I think they will argue this first, then introduce a new low battery consumption GPS feature next WWDC (nice for all users, great for business in India).

Announcing the new "Neural Location Engine" with "Liquid Fusion Power Consumption".

This is "breakthrough innovation!"

(post composed with the new Apple Word Salad App, designed for Liquid Glass)

 

[chmania]

Apple stated it was protecting all of its customers, even though that meant in that particular instance protecting a criminal's phone.

The so-called Apple customers are primarily citizens of other countries; Apple cannot usurp the rights of the respective country’s government. The days of banana republics are long gone.

 

[I7guy]

There are no two sides to this; one is a government, while the other is a foreign company whose sole interest is to make as much money as possible, by any means necessary.

I agree there are two sides to this. There can be a mutual benefit to this. So therefore I disagree with your assertion.

 

[surferfb]

The so-called Apple customers are primarily citizens of other countries; Apple cannot usurp the rights of the respective country’s government. The days of banana republics are long gone.

You're the only one claiming they are trying to. Saying "this proposal is a bad idea" (which I will remind you, in this instance APPLE DIDN'T DO, a trade association did) is not "usurping the rights" of a government or a "banana republic." That's how the system is supposed to work.

What actually is a "banana republic" is a supposedly democratic government saying "we want to force corporations to allow us to track where our citizens are at any time" while their defenders say "HOW DARE APPLE" try to push back on behalf of that country's citizens.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Even China and Russia didn't require this for Apple, while the UK asked apple to share iCloud key. I doubted that you think the UK is leaning to Russia and China.

They're leaning towards authoritarianism and spying...

 

[whatnot]

Was going to say the same thing. I’m from the UK and I bet we are next.

ah, UK, where famously you can prove your ID with a gas bill, because ID cards are straight out of 1984 (just ask EU).

 

[chmania]

What actually is a "banana republic" is a supposedly democratic government saying "we want to force corporations to allow us to track where our citizens are at any time" while their defenders say "HOW DARE APPLE" try to push back on behalf of that country's citizens.

Certainly, a foreign company is always a foreign company. You might want to explore why the term "banana republics" came into use.

 

[BradMacPro]

India is reviewing a proposal that would require Apple to keep GPS location services permanently active on every iPhone sold in the country, according to Reuters.

Under the proposal, smartphone makers including Apple would be required to activate satellite-assisted GPS on their devices at all times with no option for users to disable the feature. The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) argues that location data from cell tower triangulation is not sufficiently precise for investigative use and that authorities should have access to meter-level coordinates provided by GPS.

GPS is typically activated only when specific apps request location access or when an emergency call is placed. The COAI has also asked the government to require smartphone makers to disable pop-up notifications that inform users when a carrier is attempting to access location information.

Apple has formally opposed the proposal. In a letter sent in July by the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA), which represents Apple and Google, the companies warned the government that forcing GPS to remain active at all times would constitute a regulatory overreach.

The news comes shortly after India reversed a separate directive that would have required all smartphone makers, including Apple, to preinstall a government app and prevent users from disabling its functions. The order was rescinded after widespread criticism.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple May Have to Enable Always-On GPS in India

Wouldn't always on GPS tracking seriously and I mean SERIOUSLY kill the battery life of an iPhone?

 

[tyrnnsrs]

It is interesting that governments are trying to push tech companies to add more capabilities for the governments to surveal citizens, and it is the tech companies who are the ones pushing back against this more so than citizens.

 

[vantelimus]

However, Apple always push back on every proposal (at least as reported at MR) suggesting inability to engage in a meaningful way. Saying "no" without a meaningful counter proposal has no value and therefore Apple appears obstructive.

You have it backwards, no wonder the world is careening towards fascism, nationalism, and authoritarianism. Governments derive legitimacy from the consent of the governed. It is not a transactional negotiation. The governed have a right and a civic duty to say "no" when their temporal servants attempt overreach.

Saying "no" IS a meaningful counter proposal. Sometimes it is the most meaningful one. Try going to your spouse and saying "Let's practice polygyny so I can have four more wives". It would be absurd to accuse her of being obstructive for not countering with two. Some proposals are rejected outright because rejection is the only rational response.

 

[vantelimus]

Yeah, none of this is true and the lies, distortions, and histrionics undermine any real debate.

Read Jean-Paul Sartre's quote on anti-Semites and replace "anti-Semite" with "MAGA". It is an apt characterization of the bad faith demonstrated by MAGA.

 

[zenmacx]

One can insert quite a few jurisdictions in place of "India" here.

I hear them knocking…

funny NOT funny

 

[chmania]

Saying "no" IS a meaningful counter proposal. Sometimes it is the most meaningful one. Try going to your spouse and saying "Let's practice polygyny so I can have four more wives".

People often talk about what they are hungry for.

 

[vantelimus]

Certainly, a foreign company is always a foreign company. You might want to explore why the term "banana republics" came into use.

Apple does not operate in India as a foreign entity. Rather, it has three separate subsidiaries which are incorporated in India. These ARE Indian companies with the same legal rights as any domestically owned company. If you don't like that, take it up with the Indian government.

 

[dontwalkhand]

So not including the privacy hellhole this would bring, it would also make it so the battery would last like 3 hours. Brilliant move Indian government….

 

[code-m]

This is the salient point. The plan being Digitalisation of money, therefore you can never be or do without your digital device/ (phone) to survive.

Digital currency without options is a horrible dystopian concept. Imagine a natural disaster and the power grid alone with internet service fails or being used to track, influence and/or revoke purchasing power to whatever is good for you or something else.

 

[quietstormSD]

I know it's been a problem for women from western countries visiting India with men groping them in public. I'm hoping this stops that if it makes prosecution easier. But I don't think it will since they really like to protect their own.

 

[Omega Mac]

Digital currency without options is a horrible dystopian concept. Imagine a natural disaster and the power grid alone with internet service fails or being used to track, influence and/or revoke purchasing power to whatever is good for you or something else.

Exactamundo.