Google records
users' locations even when they have asked it not to, a report from the
Associated Press has suggested.
The issue
could affect up to two billion Android and Apple devices which use Google for
maps or search.
The study,
verified by researchers at Princeton University, has angered US law-makers.
Google said
in response that it provides clear descriptions of its tools and how to turn
them off.
The study
found that users' whereabouts are recorded even when location history has been
disabled.
For example:
Google stores a snapshot of where you are
when you open the Maps app
Automatic weather updates on Android phones
pinpoint roughly where a user is
Searches that have nothing to do with
location pinpoint precise longitude and latitude of users
'Pretty
sneaky'
To
illustrate the effect of these location markers, AP created a visual map
showing the movements of Princeton researcher Gunes Acar who was using an
Android phone with location history turned off.
The map
showed his train commute around New York as well as visits to The High Line
park, Chelsea Market, Hell's Kitchen, Central Park and Harlem. It also revealed
his home address.
To stop
Google saving these location markers, users have to turn off another setting
called Web and App Activity, which is enabled by default and which does not
mention location data.
Disabling
this prevents Google storing information generated by searches and other
activities which can limit the effectiveness of its digital assistant.
"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," writes security
researcher Graham Cluley on his blog.
"It
seems pretty sneaky to me that Google continues to store location data, unless
you both disable "Location history" and "Web & App
Activity.""
In response,
Google told AP: "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."
Following
its research, AP created a guide to show users how to delete location data.
Presented
with the evidence of the AP study, Democratic senator Mark Warner accused
technology companies of having "corporate practices that diverge wildly
from the totally reasonable expectation of their users".
Democratic
congressman Frank Pallone called for "comprehensive consumer privacy and
data security legislation".
In the UK, a
spokesman for the Information Commissioner's Office told the BBC: "Under
the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, organisations have a legal duty to
be open, transparent and fair with the public about how their personal data is
used.
"Anybody
who has concerns about how an organisation is handling their personal
information can contact the ICO."
Technology
firms are under fire for not being clear about privacy settings and how to use
them. In June, a report from the Norwegian Consumer Council found evidence that
privacy-friendly options are hidden away or obscured.
Location-based
advertising offers big opportunities to marketers. According to research firm
BIA/Kelsey, US brands are poised to spend up to $20.6bn (£16.3bn) on targeted
mobile ads in 2018.
Since 2014,
Google has let advertisers track the effectiveness of online adverts with a
feature based on footfall data, which relies on location history.
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