Google Makes Your Maps Data More Secure: Transition to On-Device Timeline Storage

Mountain View, California United States of America
Google Maps is transitioning to on-device data management for its Timeline feature.
Google Maps offers trip review features for users.
The change aims to keep personal data more secure and private.
Users need to update their Google Maps app and follow instructions to retain access to older data before December 1, 2024.
Google Makes Your Maps Data More Secure: Transition to On-Device Timeline Storage

Google Maps, the popular mapping and navigation application developed by Google, is making significant changes to its Timeline feature. The company will transition to on-device data management for the Timeline feature, which means users need to update their Google Maps app and follow instructions in a push notification, in-app alert, or email to retain access to older data.

The change comes as Google is killing off the Timeline feature on the web. Users have until December 1, 2024, to keep their saved visits and routes on the device or back them up. Inaction could result in partial or complete loss of old data.

Google is curating Timeline for each device independently under the new system. The email users receive about this change mentions that Google Maps remains one of the best apps in its segment despite competition, offering trip review features for users.

The Timeline feature provides an easy journey log and has been cloud-delivered for the longest time. However, with this change, it will be stored locally on users' devices instead of on Google's servers. This move is aimed at keeping personal data more secure and private.

Google Maps is a popular mapping and navigation app that offers several features to help plan trips, execute them, and review the stats after the fact. The Timeline feature collates your escapades and serves interesting stats, but some users prefer to have it stored on their devices for privacy reasons.

The changes are gradually rolling out to all users of the Google Maps app. Users are being asked to turn on backups to save an encrypted copy of the Timeline data on Google's servers for transfer when switching devices. The new system curates Timeline for each device independently, and users can manually back up their data if they plan to switch devices without losing the Timeline data.

Google is making these changes in response to allegations that it misled consumers and illegally tracked their movements despite turning off Location History from the account settings by taking advantage of the non-obvious Web & App Activity setting. The company has settled with several states in the U.S. over this practice, with a similar lawsuit pending in Texas.

The development is part of a series of changes Google has enacted to address concerns about privacy and data security. It's important for users to keep their devices updated and follow instructions from Google to ensure they retain access to their old Timeline data.


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Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Is the December 1, 2024 deadline a hard cutoff or can users back up their data after that date?
  • Will all users receive clear instructions to retain their old data?

Sources

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Google Maps Timeline Data to be Stored Locally on Your Device for Privacy

The Hacker News Thursday, 06 June 2024 07:15
  • Unique Points
    • Google will store Maps Timeline data locally on users’ devices instead of their Google account starting December 1, 2024.
    • Users are being asked to turn on backups to save an encrypted copy of the Timeline data on Google’s servers for transfer when switching devices.
    • A similar lawsuit is pending in the state of Texas.
  • Accuracy
    • Google will permanently delete users’ location history.
    • Users have until December 1 to keep their saved visits and routes on the device or back them up.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Google to start permanently deleting users’ location history

theguardian.com Article URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/ pakistan-·coalition-·agrees-to-form-government Alex Hern Thursday, 06 June 2024 16:06
  • Unique Points
    • Google will permanently delete users’ location history.
    • Data for the Timeline feature will be saved locally on users’ devices instead of on Google’s servers.
  • Accuracy
    • Google will permanently delete users' location history.
    • Google is reducing the default amount of time location history is stored from a previous default of 1.5 years to just three months.
    • Users have until 1 December to save their old journeys before the data is deleted permanently.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Google Maps Timeline now stores your location data on-device

Android Police News Site Chandraveer Mathur Wednesday, 05 June 2024 09:30
  • Unique Points
    • Google is transitioning to on-device data management for its Timeline feature.
    • Users need to update Google Maps and follow instructions in a push notification, in-app alert, or email to retain access to older Timeline data.
    • Timeline on the web is being killed off and users will no longer be able to view their old data on it after the switch.
    • ,users have until December 1, 2024, to keep their saved visits and routes on the device or back them up. Inaction could result in partial or complete loss of old data.
    • Google is curating Timeline for each device independently under the new system.
  • Accuracy
    • Google Maps is transitioning to on-device data management for its Timeline feature.
    • Users have until December 1, 2024, to keep their saved visits and routes on the device or back them up. Inaction could result in partial or complete loss of old data.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Save Your Google Maps Timeline to Your Phone Before Its Too Late

Gizmodo Kyle Barr Wednesday, 05 June 2024 15:00
  • Unique Points
    • Google is ending access to the Timeline feature for web users.
    • Users need to download their past routes and places from Timeline to the Google Maps app by Dec. 1, 2023.
    • Google is restricting Timeline to the app to keep data on users’ devices only.
  • Accuracy
    • Google will store Maps Timeline data locally on users' devices instead of their Google account starting December 1, 2024.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Google Maps is making a big privacy change to protect your location history

The Verge Emma Roth Wednesday, 05 June 2024 18:12
  • Unique Points
    • Google Maps is changing the way it handles your location data, storing it locally on your device instead of backing up to the cloud.
    • You have until December 1st to save all your travels to your mobile device before Google starts deleting old data.
    • Timeline, which tracks routes and trips based on phone location, will be linked to devices used rather than tied to Google accounts.
  • Accuracy
    • Google will store Maps Timeline data locally on users' devices instead of their Google account starting December 1, 2024.
    • Users have until December 1 to save their old journeys before the data is deleted permanently.
    • Google is reducing the default amount of time location history is stored from a previous default of 1.5 years to just three months.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication