Google to Delete Users’ Location Data
Google has announced that it will delete all data related to users’ previous locations, in line with its commitment to reducing stored personal information. The “timeline” feature, now called Location History, will continue to function for users who opt to use it, allowing them to view their travel history dating back potentially decades. However, all necessary data for this feature will be saved locally on users’ devices, with none stored on Google’s servers. Users have until 1 December to save their old journeys before they are permanently deleted.
Additionally, users can still back up their data if they wish to sync it across devices or prevent data loss, although this will no longer be done automatically. Google is also decreasing the default storage duration for location history; past locations will now be deleted after three months, down from the previous default of a year and a half. The company did not provide a specific reason for these changes, but suggested that users might want to clear location history for privacy reasons, such as planning a surprise event. Google emphasized its commitment to safeguarding users’ personal location information, stating that Google Maps does not sell data to advertisers or third parties.
Pressure on Google to enhance user location privacy has increased due to law enforcement requests for user data, including “dragnet” surveillance demands that require Google to disclose information about all users in a specific area at a given time. Following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, which protected the right to abortion, Google pledged to delete search information related to abortion clinics to prevent potential criminalization based on search history. However, a subsequent investigation revealed that Google’s Location History still retained enough data to identify specific locations visited by users, including Planned Parenthood facilities, despite not explicitly labeling them as clinics.
Source: Google to start permanently deleting users’ location history
