Google brings important privacy update to Maps, here’s what it means for you

Google is rolling out an important privacy updates to the Maps app. The tech giant is altering the way it handles users’ location data. Currently, all the Maps location history was stored on Google’s servers. However, Google has now revealed that all the location history will be saved on users’ devices. Google also renamed the location history feature to Timeline.

What this will do is that it ensures all the location history —places you have visited, restaurants you have eaten at — will remain under your control. This will enhance user privacy and data security.  While they are reliable and safe, users won’t have to rely on cloud servers. Google will locally save all the location history data on your Android or iOS device.

To further protect your data, Google offers end-to-end encrypted cloud backups for your Timeline in Maps. This ensures that only you can access this backup, adding an extra layer of security.

There’s something which users might not like. The web version of your Timeline will not be available on the web. Users could access their location history through the web interface, but with this change, it will no longer be available on Maps for desktops. However, the feature will continue to work on Google Maps for Android and iOS.

According to a report by 9to5Google, the company will send out emails to users once the feature is available for them. “If you don’t update your settings by the deadline in the emails and notifications you receive, you may lose some or all of your Timeline data, like your visits and routes,” Google warns users in the emails. So, make sure to update your settings promptly to avoid losing any Timeline data.

Google has been doing a gradual roll out of the new privacy setting, so you can expect to see them soon.