“Google collects location data in Android and iOS even if that function is turned off”

Google collects location information from Android and iOS users through many of its own services, even though they have disabled the option of tracking location history. This is reported by the AP news agency based on research with Princeton researchers.

For example, when mobile users open Google Maps, look up things in their browser or receive updates about the weather, Google tracks the location. This is also the case if the location history for a Google account is turned off. This is reported by the AP news agency, based on a study that has been validated by employees of the American Princeton University. According to AP, disabling location history only prevents the creation of a timeline of the user’s locations; some apps will still apply tracking and store location data and the associated times.

This is the functionality called ‘web and app activity’. For example, Google uses it to give users the ability to view and manage their search activity. It also allows the company to provide better search results and suggestions and thus offer personalized content. This functionality is enabled by default and stores quite a bit of information from Google services and apps in the Google account.

If location history is off, web and app activity, if enabled, will still collect location markers. Those can be removed manually, but then they must be selected individually or removed all at once. The AP news agency put it to the test, creating a visual map of a Princeton researcher’s movements and locations. He had an Android phone with only location history turned off. It turned out to be quite easy to map out his routes.

This form of tracking by Google was already raised in May by a Berkeley researcher. She researched traveler patterns to help urban planners. During this investigation, she noticed that her Android phone was asking to rate a store visit, even though she knew she had turned off the location history feature. She did not think this was a bad thing per se, but the fact that, in her opinion, Google had not explicitly made it clear that this form of tracking was being used.

Google has said in a response that it is completely clear. According to a spokesperson, there are multiple ways that Google uses location data to improve the user experience, including the options of location history, web and app activity and location services. Google provides these tools with clear descriptions and ‘robust’ means to set them up, the spokesperson said. Users can also always delete their history, according to the spokesperson.

It is not the first time that Google has been in the spotlight regarding the collection of location data. Last year, the website Quartz discovered that the location of Android users was being mapped by Google, even if they had turned off all location services. The location was determined on the basis of cell towers and an opt-out was not possible. Google eventually corrected this, saying it had never saved the data in the first place.