Google tracks you even if you turn off 'location history': report
So, you’ve turned off Location History on your phone in an effort to maintain your privacy and limit the amount of data you share with the big tech companies. Well, it turns out Google may still be tracking your movements.
An AP investigation published Monday discovered that some of Google’s many different services are still tracking users' every move on both iPhone and Android phones regardless of whether they've toggled the “Location History” setting on or off.
SEE ALSO:Google never really left China: a look at the Chinese website Google's been quietly runningWhen using a service like Google Maps, Google will ask you to permit access to your iPhone or Android phone's location data. When agreeing to this request, you allow Google Maps to record your location history, and display your location history on a timeline so you can view your daily travels.
On a Google support page for managing your Location History, the company says “You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored." However, as the AP investigation discovered, that isn’t exactly true.
Some examples of location-data logging the AP points to include Android’s automatic weather updates that still track your general location, Google’s search engine saving an exact location for each search query to your Google account, and even Google Maps itself snapshotting your location when you open the application.
AP began its inquiry into this location-tracking issue after a graduate researcher at UC Berkeley observed a notification on her Android phone asking her to rate a recent trip to Kohl’s even though she had turned off Location History.
It seems that even with Location History put on pause, a number of Google apps still automatically store your location data without asking.
In a statement to the AP, Google explained, “There are a number of different ways that Google may use location to improve people’s experience, including: Location History, Web and App Activity, and through device-level Location Services. We provide clear descriptions of these tools, and robust controls so people can turn them on or off, and delete their histories at any time.”
To actually stop location services on your iPhone or Android device altogether, Google pointed AP to the "Web and App Activity" setting. This setting, turned on by default, controls various options for apps and services connected to your Google account.
As AP discovered upon further exploring these options, Google's prompts further explain what each setting means, but only after you toggle each one on or off. Pausing Location History on your Google account webpage provides a prompt that informs you that "some location data may be saved as part of your activity on other Google services, like Search and Maps."
On an Android phone, toggling the same setting off lets you know that "places you go with your devices will stop being added to your Location History map." On an iPhone you’ll be warned that "none of your Google apps will be able to store location data in Location History."
Additionally, when toggling the “Web and App Activity” setting on through your Google account, you're notified that the setting "saves the things you do on Google sites, apps, and services ... and associated information, like location."
Technically, Google is right in its explanation of each of these settings. Location History settings seem to only pertain to the actual logging of this location data on the phone for easy user access, the ability to view a timeline of precisely where you’ve been. Toggling this setting off does not affect Google’s ability to pinpoint your location and draw from this data what the company deems necessary to give you more accurate information.
In a statement provided to Mashable, a Google spokesperson said:
"Location History is a Google product that is entirely opt in, and users have the controls to edit, delete, or turn it off at any time. As the story notes, we make sure Location History users know that when they disable the product, we continue to use location to improve the Google experience when they do things like perform a Google search or use Google for driving directions."
Mashable was also provided with this link on Google's location data policy.
Google previously faced scrutiny for a location-tracking issue late last year. The company was found to be accessing users' location even when the GPS location tracking was off through "Cell ID codes" obtained through cellular towers.
Jonathan Mayer, a computer scientist at Princeton and a former chief technologist for the FCC’s enforcement bureau, had a researcher from his lab confirm AP’s findings. Speaking to the AP, Mayer said, “If you’re going to allow users to turn off something called ‘Location History,’ then all the places where you maintain location history should be turned off. That seems like a pretty straightforward position to have.”
It’s pretty clear with the AP’s findings that the settings options and language used to describe them are fairly confusing for the average iPhone and Android user. The question remains as to whether Google will clarify these privacy issues with updated options and information provided to consumers. However, with GDPR laws already changing many big tech companies’ policies regarding how they deal with European users’ privacy and data, Google may not have much of a choice.
UPDATE: Aug. 16, 2018, 1:53 p.m. PDTThe AP reported Thursday that Google is now clarifying that the app continues to track user location even after turning off location history.
A Google spokesperson said in an email statement Thursday afternoon, "We have been updating the explanatory language about Location History to make it more consistent and clear across our platforms and help centers.”
Featured Video For You
We tested this device to see if it could actually help us find our friends — no matter how good they are at hiding
-
雅安市举办首届“文轩教育”校园足球精英夏令营四大版块,精彩不断!快来打卡2024广东省“绿书签行动”宣传周活动镜头聚焦乡村新面貌!“百千万工程”主题摄影展在南国书香节上引关注Man City move 11 points clear in Premier LeagueCourting DisasterTrump rumors are fun, but they're a dangerous fantasyChris Hemsworth gleefully pokes fun at divorce rumours on InstagramDJ Khaled documented his son's birth in the most DJ Khaled wayThe OLED BurnAmazon just announced new game accessories for the Echo called Buttons
下一篇:How 3D Game Rendering Works: Texturing
- ·Is Mercury retrograde messing with you? Think again.
- ·Trump, Kim likely to 'reach accord' in Singapore
- ·2024广东省“绿书签行动”宣传周启动!精彩活动约定你
- ·H.C. Andersen’s works showcased at exhibition
- ·The Techies Who Lunch
- ·Watch Beyoncé and Jay
- ·Amazon just announced new game accessories for the Echo called Buttons
- ·Millie Bobby Brown's Golden Globes Instagram post about Drake is 11/10
- ·Trump trials: Jack Smith is reportedly reconsidering his strategy.
- ·US senator: Trump wants to end North Korea crisis by 2021
- ·20 things that will be 20 years old in 2018
- ·If you invent a jetpack, Boeing will give you $2 million
- ·A global problem is preventing the wars in Ukraine and Gaza from coming to an end.
- ·Barty serves her way to brilliant win over Kenin
- ·Defectors juggle mixed sentiments on Korean detente
- ·重磅!粤海饲料上市后首次跨国并购,布局苗料产业链
- ·Sinner vs. Michelsen 2024 livestream: Watch US Open for free
- ·Swiatek powers into Adelaide second round
- ·Trippier becomes first signing under Newcastle's new Saudi owners
- ·后勤有保障 救援添力量
- ·Europe now has a huge AI gap, for better or for worse
- ·DJ Khaled documented his son's birth in the most DJ Khaled way
- ·Foreign reporters on way to North Korea's nuke site [PHOTOS]
- ·If you invent a jetpack, Boeing will give you $2 million
- ·Tesla reveals Cybertruck has sold more than DeLorean
- ·Samsung offers Galaxy S8 or Note8 at half price to customers who return their Note7
- ·It's Unnecessary But, AMD Is Basically Lying About CPU Performance
- ·North Korea says taking 'technical measures' to dismantle nuclear test site
- ·South Korea voices regret over North's suspension of talks
- ·Swiatek powers into Adelaide second round
- ·Best tablet deals as of August 27
- ·KAI seeks to boost foray into Indonesian defense market
- ·Pyongyang's denuclearization may proceed speedily: official
- ·More Iranian oil likely to reach North Korea after nuclear deal: CRS report
- ·“新丰味”喜获中国首届县域品牌擂台赛十大营销创新品牌
- ·Man City move 11 points clear in Premier League