Google has announced major changes to how user location history data is stored and accessed in Google Maps, giving users more control over their privacy. The company will no longer provide location history data to law enforcement in response to “geofence warrants,” and will enable users to store their Maps timeline and location history exclusively on their devices rather than in the cloud.
Timeline of Events Leading to Policy Change
Concerns over location tracking and user privacy have been building over time. Key events include:
- 2018: Investigation finds hundreds of apps tracking user locations, often without consent
- 2019: Report reveals Google Maps data used by military for intelligence
- 2021: Police obtain geofence warrants for Google data to make arrests
- 2022: Concerns raised over inaccurate location data showing non-existent roads
- 2023: EFF sues for info on Google’s geofence warrant process
Google Ends “Geofence Warrants” for Location History Access
On December 13th, 2023, Google announced it will no longer provide identifying user location history data to law enforcement based on “geofence warrants.”
Geofence warrants allow police to request location data on all devices detected within a defined area and time period associated with a crime. This results in data being provided on devices unconnected with the crime.
Google received over 25,000 geofence warrant requests from law enforcement in 2022 alone. Police have used location data obtained through these controversial warrants to identify suspects and make arrests.
However, digital rights groups like the EFF have criticized geofence warrants as overbroad violations of privacy. The warrants skirt the 4th Amendment’s protections against unreasonable search and seizure by allowing police to obtain expansive data without establishing probable cause for each person affected.
| Year | Geofence Warrants Received |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 982 |
| 2019 | 8,396 |
| 2020 | 11,554 |
| 2021 | 9,883 |
| 2022 | 25,134 |
Data Source: Google Transparency Report
By stopping compliance with these warrants, Google aims to better protect user privacy. The policy change has been praised by digital rights advocates. But some law enforcement representatives argue it will hinder investigations.
Timeline & Location History Now Stored On-Device
In a related policy update, Google also announced forthcoming changes to how user location history data is stored in Google Maps.
The Google Maps Timeline feature records locations users have visited if location history is enabled. This data has previously been stored in users’ Google accounts.
Now, Android and iOS users will have the option to keep their Maps timeline and location history exclusively on their devices rather than in the cloud. An encrypted on-device database will store visits, searches, and other activity.
Users can manually back up this private location history to their Google account if desired. But otherwise, the data stays on the phone or tablet itself.
Storing location history on-device by default significantly improves privacy. Police or other parties will no longer be able to request these records from Google. Users have greater transparency and control.
What Happens Next?
Google’s policy changes take a stand against unwarranted location tracking. But questions remain about real-world impacts.
It’s unclear if the geofence warrant ban will withstand legal challenges claiming it obstructs justice. And while it closes one privacy loophole, location data gathered through apps can still be used to identify people who were “in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Meanwhile, auto storing location history on-device alleviates immediate privacy threats. But it places responsibility on users to secure that sensitive data themselves. Doing so could prove challenging for non-experts.
Google may explore additional protections like automatic history deletion after set time periods. Competing platforms like Apple Maps may also implement similar privacy-focused features.
But advantageous business interests around targeted advertising ensure locational data collection itself is unlikely to disappear entirely. Users comfortable sharing some location information for personalized recommendations will likely retain that option.
In summary, Google’s new policies expand user privacy choices around potentially sensitive locational data. But truly comprehensive public oversight and legal frameworks governing commercial location tracking still appear far off. The saga around finding an appropriate balance between privacy rights and legitimate data access is sure to continue.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
