diff --git a/api/current.txt b/api/current.txt
index 54e4234ad8737..8dc7ef45b277e 100644
--- a/api/current.txt
+++ b/api/current.txt
@@ -47004,7 +47004,7 @@ package android.telephony {
   public abstract class CellLocation {
     ctor public CellLocation();
     method public static android.telephony.CellLocation getEmpty();
-    method public static void requestLocationUpdate();
+    method @Deprecated public static void requestLocationUpdate();
   }
 
   public abstract class CellSignalStrength {
diff --git a/non-updatable-api/current.txt b/non-updatable-api/current.txt
index 8e01620d8bb24..52676c70c55d4 100644
--- a/non-updatable-api/current.txt
+++ b/non-updatable-api/current.txt
@@ -45172,7 +45172,7 @@ package android.telephony {
   public abstract class CellLocation {
     ctor public CellLocation();
     method public static android.telephony.CellLocation getEmpty();
-    method public static void requestLocationUpdate();
+    method @Deprecated public static void requestLocationUpdate();
   }
 
   public abstract class CellSignalStrength {
diff --git a/telephony/java/android/telephony/CellLocation.java b/telephony/java/android/telephony/CellLocation.java
index 4e4abd0f63b03..aa1230165e13b 100644
--- a/telephony/java/android/telephony/CellLocation.java
+++ b/telephony/java/android/telephony/CellLocation.java
@@ -46,7 +46,14 @@ public abstract class CellLocation {
      *
      * Callers wishing to request a single location update should use
      * {@link TelephonyManager#requestCellInfoUpdate}.
+     *
+     * @deprecated this method has undesirable side-effects, and it calls into the OS without
+     * access to a {@link android.content.Context Context}, meaning that certain safety checks and
+     * attribution are error-prone. Given that this method has numerous downsides, and given that
+     * there are long-available superior alternatives, callers are strongly discouraged from using
+     * this method.
      */
+    @Deprecated
     public static void requestLocationUpdate() {
         // Since this object doesn't have a context, this is the best we can do.
         final Context appContext = ActivityThread.currentApplication();