Google has been accused of recording users' locations even after being asked not to, potentially leaving it open to huge fines for breaking the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules.
The issue could affect up to two billion Android and Apple devices that use Google Maps apps or search engine, claimed the Associated Press, whose work has been verified by researchers at Princeton University.
Google responded that it provided clear descriptions of its tools and how to turn them off. But the study found that users' whereabouts are recorded even when location history has been disabled.
This is because Google stores a snapshot of your location when you open its Maps app; automatic weather updates on Android phones pinpoint roughly where users are; and searches that have nothing to do with location pinpoint users’ precise longitude and latitude.
To stop Google from saving these location markers, users need to turn off another setting called ‘Web and App Activity’, which is enabled by default and fails to mention location data. Disabling this function prevents Google from storing information generated by searches and other activities, which can limit the effectiveness of its digital assistant.
Security researcher Graham Cluley said on his blog: "You would think that telling Google that you didn't want your location to be tracked by disabling an option called 'Location History' would stop the internet giant from storing data about your location. It seems pretty sneaky to me that Google continues to store location data, unless you both disable 'Location history' and 'Web & App Activity'."
Google told AP in reply: "There are a number of different ways that Google may use location to improve people's experience, including: Location History, Web and App Activity, and through device-level Location Services. We provide clear descriptions of these tools, and robust controls so people can turn them on or off, and delete their histories at any time."
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
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Google has been accused of recording users' locations even after being asked not to, potentially leaving it open to huge fines for breaking the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules.
The issue could affect up to two billion Android and Apple devices that use Google Maps apps or search engine, claimed the Associated Press, whose work has been verified by researchers at Princeton University.
Google responded that it provided clear descriptions of its tools and how to turn them off. But the study found that users' whereabouts are recorded even when location history has been disabled.
This is because Google stores a snapshot of your location when you open its Maps app; automatic weather updates on Android phones pinpoint roughly where users are; and searches that have nothing to do with location pinpoint users’ precise longitude and latitude.
To stop Google from saving these location markers, users need to turn off another setting called ‘Web and App Activity’, which is enabled by default and fails to mention location data. Disabling this function prevents Google from storing information generated by searches and other activities, which can limit the effectiveness of its digital assistant.
Security researcher Graham Cluley said on his blog: "You would think that telling Google that you didn't want your location to be tracked by disabling an option called 'Location History' would stop the internet giant from storing data about your location. It seems pretty sneaky to me that Google continues to store location data, unless you both disable 'Location history' and 'Web & App Activity'."
Google told AP in reply: "There are a number of different ways that Google may use location to improve people's experience, including: Location History, Web and App Activity, and through device-level Location Services. We provide clear descriptions of these tools, and robust controls so people can turn them on or off, and delete their histories at any time."
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
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Only just over a third of US organisations are GDPR-compliant
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