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Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

businessinsider.com

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Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#21

Post by atoumey »

johnerik wrote: post #14
arebop wrote: post #5

I sometimes query this to help me recall details from years ago, so I'm sad that the encroachment of very broad government surveillance and the rise to power of extremist politicians makes it unacceptably dangerous to continue to provide the service.

I also like having this data — fun to occasionally time travel. The earliest record I have is from June 16, 2015, anyone have earlier?

August 17, 2010. As a personal data hoarder, I love having this data about myself.

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#22

Post by hutzlibu »

SoftTalker wrote: post #18
arebop wrote: post #5

I sometimes query this to help me recall details from years ago, so I'm sad that the encroachment of very broad government surveillance and the rise to power of extremist politicians makes it unacceptably dangerous to continue to provide the service.

Have never found myself in and cannot imagine a circumstance where I'd need to know my precise location at a point in time years ago, or really even at any time other than the present.

Proofing you were not at a crime scene at a certain time. You disabled location saving - that's suspicious?

/s

More serious, if it would be my data under my control, it can be fun checking the past. Exploring where you travelled and when .. but that is kind of my buisness amd not googles. But since I use a android phone, they have it anyway.

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#23

Post by Sargos »

SoftTalker wrote: post #18
arebop wrote: post #5

I sometimes query this to help me recall details from years ago, so I'm sad that the encroachment of very broad government surveillance and the rise to power of extremist politicians makes it unacceptably dangerous to continue to provide the service.

Have never found myself in and cannot imagine a circumstance where I'd need to know my precise location at a point in time years ago, or really even at any time other than the present.

I travel quite a lot and I routinely look back at my trips from years ago to see what restaurants I visited and where I stayed. It shows me my path on a map and also shows my photos taken at each location which lets me relive my trips easily. It's quite an amazing feature most people don't even know exists.

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#25

Post by shepherdjerred »

I disabled location history a while ago for privacy reasons. It was _so_ cool to look back and see where I went during trips, or where I was on a given day in college, but it felt weird that it could potentially be exposed to everyone in a leak.

It's great to hear that Google is making such a big move. Google is not known for respecting user privacy.

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#26

Post by SkyMarshal »

arebop wrote: post #5

I sometimes query this to help me recall details from years ago, so I'm sad that the encroachment of very broad government surveillance and the rise to power of extremist politicians makes it unacceptably dangerous to continue to provide the service.

I just Star/Heart the places I go that I want to remember. Google will continue to store those server-side at least.

Re: Location history data in Google Maps will soon be stored on user devices

#30

Post by stjohnswarts »

I've had my google activity turned off for a long time. Every so often they add a new privacy item so I keep checking back in every few months. https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity . Unless you use google services a lot, I'd suggest turning it off. You will lose personalized searches though. That doesn't matter much to me though, as they seem to get worse over time and not better.
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