Google Maps is enforcing a major privacy change to protect users' location history
Users have until December 1st, 2024 to move their Timeline data to the Google Maps app on their mobile devices.
Google Maps users will now need to rely more on the Google Maps app, as Google has announced in an email that it will be deleting users' Location History data from the web version of Google Maps after a December 1st, 2024 deadline.
This comes after Google first announced in December 2023 that it would now be storing the Location History, now called Timeline on mobile devices after previously storing it on the cloud to double down on privacy.
Also, as part of the privacy efforts, the tech giant began deleting locations, such as abortion clinics, domestic violence shelters, weight loss centres, and more, from location history and updated Maps to prevent authorities from accessing location history.
Now, the Timeline, which shows where you’ve been, including the specific locations you might have visited, such as places and cities, according to how the data is grouped, will be saved on the Google Maps app for Android and iOS right on your mobile device.
Many users didn't find this new decision pleasing, as they rely heavily on the web user interface rather than the app for storing their Timeline data, while others believed that Google would now take the time to perfect the Timeline feature on the app.
However, if you want to keep your old Timeline data and continue storing new information, you will need to update to the most recent version of Maps, follow the instructions, which you will receive as a push notification, in-app alert, on-screen instructions, or email, and tap on done.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
Right now, Google is making efforts to roll out the feature to its over 1 billion monthly active users globally per data from On The Map Marketing.
It has also confirmed that it will try moving up to 90 days of Timeline data to the first-signed-in device after the deadline (December 1st, 2024), after which any routes or visits made before that period will be auto-deleted.
