Google is bringing a major change to Maps – users’ location
history will now be stored locally on their devices instead of in the cloud. This
is to prevent personal data from being accessible to law enforcement.
Law enforcement can collect data from tech companies on
mobile phones that have passed through a certain area during a specific time,
as a result of ‘geoface warrants.’ This makes anyone present at an alleged
crime scene a potential suspect and puts all such people’s privacy at risk,
hence the controversy around these warrants.
The update in Maps is specifically being applied within the Timeline feature, that keeps track of users’ location history and this information is stored in the Cloud. After the change, the data will instead be stored in users’ devices. Both Android and iOS users of Google Maps will receive a notification informing them about the update as it gradually rolls out.
Simultaneously, the auto-delete settings in Maps will also
be updated. These settings will now be set to three months by default instead
of 18 months.
Being the most targeted company by geoface warrants, Google has been facing long-term pressure to put an end to the use of the warrants across its products. It seems like the tech giant is finally taking action, starting off with Maps. The new Maps update is expected to arrive some time in the coming year.
