Location privacy HAL to prevent carrier to get exact location?

stardustnova

In the following article by android authority:

https://www.androidauthority.com/android-15-location-privacy-3429574/

The author suggest that newer pixels might prevent carrier from using Network Initiated Location Request (NI-LR) to determine user's exact location from android 15 onwards.

Is this implemented in newer pixels ?

telemetry83

The article says part of the feature was added and then removed. The article doesn't confirm the feature was actually added back. As you mention, the article only suggests it will be available in Android 15 based on a comment.

AOSP commit to add the feature on November 23, 2022:

https://cs.android.com/android/_/android/platform/hardware/interfaces/+/2f2a0482ff4bfb179a9b8fede06c58a0290fce34

AOSP commit to remove the feature on December 26, 2022:

https://cs.android.com/android/_/android/platform/hardware/interfaces/+/44e86c2f82cc42bc56f5a35d153c3f6ba18f2de0

The subsequent history for the modified files shows the feature hasn't been added back as of the latest Android release.

The GrapheneOS version of IRadioNetwork.aidl is the same: https://github.com/GrapheneOS/platform_hardware_interfaces/blob/16-qpr1/radio/aidl/android/hardware/radio/network/IRadioNetwork.aidl. The changes are not there as of Android 16 QPR1.

I don't see a Github issue for this feature. It's a good idea for someone to create one to see if the GrapheneOS team can allow for blocking Network Induced Location Request (NI-LR) for at least non-emergency scenarios.

stardustnova

Thanks for the detailed reply @telemetry83 .

The question of NI-LR arose due to the following article by Reuters which suggests that governments may be actively abusing these location request even in non-emergency scenarios:

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/india-weighs-greater-phone-location-surveillance-apple-google-samsung-protest-2025-12-05/

In that above article it is quoted :

(Even the old way of location tracking is becoming problematic, the telecom group said, as smartphone makers show a pop-up message to users, alerting them that their "carrier is trying to access your location.")

Looking at the issue ,it would be great if @GrapheneOS could provide solution of this problem if pixel's hardware support it.

Thanks

dawt

stardustnova Looking at the issue ,it would be great if @GrapheneOS could provide solution of this problem if pixel's hardware support it.

Unlikely, given that for it to work, would require corresponding code to be added in the baseband as well, which probably doesn't exist given that the corresponding change in Android got reverted.