Its policies are clearer, but turning off tracking is still not as easy as flipping a switch
By Cal Jeffrey,
In context: Monday we reported how Google still tracks you even when you
turn off Location History. Some apps continue to collect your location
information. Disabling tracking is all the more difficult due to the
lack of transparency on Google’s part.
Thanks to the backlash from users, some of whom were not even aware they
were still being tracked, Google has changed the language on its help
pages to clarify its tracking practices.
Today a Google spokesperson told the Associated Press, “We have been
updating the explanatory language about Location History to make it more
consistent and clear across our platforms and help centers.”
Its stance seems to have swung 180 degrees since Monday when the search
giant claimed that it was “perfectly clear” regarding its tracking
policies. Public outcry obviously changed the company’s mind about just
how transparent it was.
The specific language used on the Location History help pages was quite
misleading. It previously said, “With Location History off, the places
you go are no longer stored.”
This statement is patently false. Many apps including Maps and Chrome
continue to store your location even with history disabled. This
statement has been removed and now reads:
“This setting does not affect other location services on your
device, like Google Location Services and Find My Device. Some location
data may be saved as part of your activity on other services, like
Search and Maps.”
The clarity and transparency are welcomed and all, but it still does not
address the oblique and cumbersome process involved in turning off
location services. First, you have to log into your Google account and
select “Manage Your Google Activity.” Then click “Go To Activity
Controls.” On the next page, you have to toggle off “Web and App
Activity (image above).”
As you can see, even if you know what you are doing the process is not
straightforward. Of course, while Google may deny it, this is
undoubtedly by design. Since we are the product that Google sells, and
our location data is valuable to advertisers, the company naturally made
opting out of location services more complicated than it needs to be.
Until Google makes a “Location Services” toggle built into the Android OS, the company is not really doing users any favors.
https://www.geezgo.com/sps/35401
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