Google Admits To Tracking Users’ Whereabouts Even When Location Data Is Turned Off

San Francisco: Google has admitted that some of their apps track users’ locations even when the location data is turned off on the devices. They have, however, clarified that they do so to “improve Google experience”.

Before the update to the help page, it had stated, “You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored.”

Now it says, “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”.

While this is an indication that the location data is being tracked by some of Google’s apps, a spokesperson from the company told CNET, “We have been updating the explanatory language about Location History to make it more consistent and clear across our platforms and help centres.”

Google had earlier stated that “Location History is a Google product that is entirely opt in, and users have the controls to edit, delete or turn it off at any time,” and now they have given an explanation saying “we make sure Location History users know that when they disable the product, we continue to use location to improve the Google experience when they do things like perform a Google search or use Google for driving directions.”

In Google Settings, pausing the “Web and App Activity” might work instead of turning off the location data, experts say.