> That’s frequently the challenge mobile operators run into - the OS needs privileged access to location services (eg 911) that it can’t grant untrusted code.

It doesn't actually need this. The phone app can just ask for permission to access your location, which you would then give it when you call 911 because you want the emergency responders to know where you are.

Anyone who really wants to can already deny the phone their location by using a Faraday cage with a WiFi access point in it so the phone has internet but no GPS or cellular triangulation. You can't prevent it by not allowing the user to deny the permission.

There is no excuse for special permissions.