Google announced upcoming updates to Google Maps aimed at giving users enhanced control over their location data.
These updates will not only make it possible to achieve a more private experience on the popular navigation software but may also absolve the tech giant from having to comply with the controversial law enforcement practice of issuing “geofence warrants.”
Stronger data controls
Starting with the Timeline feature, which keeps a history of people’s locations on Google Maps, it will now be opt-in, meaning that users must enable it. Location history data for those using the feature will now be stored directly on the users’ devices instead of Google’s servers.
If the user opts to backup that data to migrate to a new device for example, Google will automatically encrypt it so it will be unreadable to anyone, including the service provider.
Additionally, auto-deletion will be activated automatically upon turning on Location History, which is set to three months, much shorter than 18 months, which was the default setting previously.
Another update concerning Location History is introducing a new option allowing users to delete activity related to specific places. This is helpful for when people want to keep their visits to a particular location private.
Finally, Google Maps will enrich the blue dot that indicates the user’s location with instantly accessible privacy setting controls, making it possible to change data retention policies on the fly.
These updates are expected to roll out gradually over the coming weeks on both Android and iOS platforms, with users receiving notifications as updates become available to their accounts.
“Geofence warrants” on Google Maps
Geofence warrants, also known as “reverse location warrants,” are an increasingly abused tool in law enforcement investigations in the United States and worldwide. Unlike standard warrants that target an individual or a specific location, geofence warrants force tech companies to provide location data for all devices that happen to be within a specified geographic area during a particular time frame.
Law enforcement agencies present this extensive location data collection as an inevitable requirement when conducting criminal investigations and trying to identify potential suspects or witnesses. However, sweeping up data from numerous innocent people who just happened to be in the area at the time constitutes a violation of privacy rights.
Companies like Google, which are at the receiving end of numerous geofence warrants, do not want to deal with the legal and ethical implications that arise from the matter. Moreover, systematic abuse of these warrants threatens to erode user trust in Google Maps and Android and risks the company’s reputation. Finally, responding to a large number of geofence warrants requires significant resources for handling the requests, ensuring legal compliance, etc. All in all, this entire procedure is a loss-loss for them.
Google’s ability to profit from location data remains substantial, given its application in targeted advertising, consumer insight analytics, and enhancing location-based services and products. However, stringent data protection laws such as the GDPR compel the company to balance commercial interests, legal compliance, and the public’s perception of user privacy. This might have been pivotal in Google’s decision to implement privacy-enhancing updates in Google Maps.