Google To Roll Out Auto-Delete Controls For Location History and Activity Data (betanews.com) 65
Google has announced that it is giving users greater control over how long the company holds on to location history and activity data. From a report: A new time-limiting feature makes it possible to have information such as account activity and location data automatically deleted after a period of time. The privacy-focused move comes after feedback to Google which found users wanted the company to provide simpler ways to manage or delete the private data it holds. The announcement comes months after Associated Press reported that a number of Google apps store the timestamped locations of the devices on which they're installed.
DoNotCollect Maybe (Score:5, Insightful)
Auto-Delete? How about Do Not Collect?
Re: (Score:1)
Way to miss the boat, and the summary links.
Many Google Services on Android Devices and iPhones Store Location Data, Even if Location Sharing is Disabled From Privacy Settings: AP [slashdot.org]
Re:DoNotCollect Maybe (Score:5, Informative)
If you want to have the settings respected, you don't do so via Google's controls. You set this in the browser [mozilla.org] (plus here [mozilla.org]), then individually for each of Google's services. For Web Search, here [duckduckgo.com], for reverse image search here [tineye.com], and so on.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
This is mostly unrelated to browsers so you DO need to use Google's controls. Most of the location data is from your phone, for example.
It's very easy to disable entirely for you phone, or on a per-app basis, or to allow apps to use location data but have Google not store it, and now to also have Google delete it after a while.
Also by default in Chrome every site is set to ask you before it gets to access your location. Surprised you have to actively disable it in Firefox, are you sure about that?
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Aren't you assuming that works, when we already know it doesn't?
AP Exclusive: Google tracks your movements, like it or not [apnews.com]
You are also confusing "submit" with "collect". Two very different activities.
Re: DoNotCollect Maybe (Score:2)
The option to not collect already exists. This is an option to automatically limit retention of data, which I absolutely salute Google for offering.
Some of us find allowing Google access to location data highly useful; such as automatically setting my alarm when I leave my house, updating my calendar to the correct time zone when I travel, setting reminders to pick an item up next time I visit a particular store, or sharing my location with friends or family members.
Re: (Score:2)
Blah, blah, blah, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. Why the hell would I believe anything Google says, the baked search results for political purposed to corrupt democracy. Google says it deletes, oh yeah, pull the other way, PROVE IT. Alphabet a blatant full of shit liars, why would any one take the claims seriously. So how many data centres will they be shutting down, seeing as they do not need them as much any more, what, NONE.
I would accept Google's claims about deleting data when VERIFIED (bwa hah hah) in
And if you believe that (Score:2, Interesting)
And if you believe that Google will let any data be deleted, I have a bridge to sell you!
Hello Mrs. Smoke, my name is Mr. Mirror (Score:5, Insightful)
How about we get together and have a lot of smoke and mirrors!?
The only thing this is likely going to do is remove your ability to see the data, not actually delete the data itself. Like one other person has already stated... it should not have been collected to begin with.
Re: (Score:1)
I suspect the only reason they're providing this ability is they don't _need_ to hold on to the data for long periods. Similar to how referrer headers were removed, because their ad tracking network provides all the data they need without it.
As to why they wouldn't need to hold on to your data for a long period? Possibly because everyone else does a good job of tracking you indirectly. And all the points of interest (wifi routers, cell towers, etc.) can be saved indefinitely which will give you away in r
Re: (Score:2)
If anyone has any evidence of this, such as the data being recoverable or accessible to law enforcement, please post it. I'll submit the GDPR complaint myself.
Deleted on your device or browser (Score:3)
Not from the Google data stores
Re: Deleted on your device or browser (Score:2)
Close I bet Google will delete their stores too.
However that grill thermometer app that wants access to your photos, location Bluetooth, and sms,. Well it will collect that data separately and doesn't count.
Re: (Score:2)
Err no the devices do not retain the data.
And this ... (Score:1)
And this is why my personal phone has no data plan, has no fucking apps, and never connects to any form of wireless network.
It gets used for text messages and voice mail.
Neither Google nor anybody else can access location data for my phone which doesn't exist.
Fuck your goddamned apps, they're just there to spy on you.
Worthless after 3 months? (Score:4, Insightful)
The value of the data must plummet after 3 months and become near worthless after 18 months.
Re: Worthless after 3 months? (Score:3, Informative)
Amazon has 20 years of my buying history
In 20 years Amazon has not offered me a single sale or discount item that I would actually want.
If Amazon can't offer good things why do people think targeted advertising will actually work?
It is too much raw data to sort through. And so called ai's are only making it worse.
Re: (Score:1)
The only thing Amazons analytics are good at is trying to sell me, again, almost every single item I've recently purchased.
Re: Worthless after 3 months? (Score:1)
Most items Amazon recommends are items I already purchased!
Re: What guarantees do we have it's actually delet (Score:1)
We do not actually delete anything. There is a flag called the delete flag. We set the flag and then the system will not display it. But we do not want to delete anything. It is a standard practice you see. It's fine. You don't need to worry about it.
Good move by Google (Score:1)
"Control" (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Google Exec 1: Goddamn... another $500 million for hard drive storage space?
Google Exec 2: Yep, we need it to store all this user data.
Google Exec 1: The Fuck? Somebody needs to do something about this.
[Thus commenced a long chain of 'somebody needs to do something' down through the VP, AVP, Director, Manager, etc levels - finally arriving on some Tech's cubicle]
Tech 1: Save money on storage space? Well, it shows here that 99% of our revenue is generate by the newest 3% of our data.
Tech 2: How 'new'
Feedback to google? (Score:3)
Interesting (Score:5, Insightful)
So, right now, I have those “save history” settings turned completely off in my Google accounts... why do I suspect this new announcement is Shoe Number One, and when the other shoe drops we’ll find out the option to not save it at all is being removed?
And why is three months the minimum? I would think a lot of people would find a one day deletion time a good fit with whatever benefit they might perceive to saving such data.
Re: (Score:2)
I suspect this new announcement is Shoe Number One, and when the other shoe drops we’ll find out the option to not save it at all is being removed?
Care to make a wager on that?
Re: (Score:2)
Care to make a wager on that?
Okay, I may regret this but I'm game as long as we don't take this too seriously (I mean, it's Slashdot).
You work at Google - ever make it to their Seattle offices? If you do - how about if my prediction doesn't turn out in the next... 6 or 12 months? ... I'll buy you a beer (or tea, or coffee - whatever your beverage of choice is) sometime when you're up here in the rainy hinterlands.
Of course for all I know, you have some insider knowledge on this and I'm making a suckers bet...
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
So, right now, I have those “save history” settings
A completely different setting and system to location tracking.
And why is three months the minimum?
An incredible amount of location related information is used to provide Google services, not the least of which underpins the dominance of maps. The ability to predict traffic changes, to analyse opening and busy times for restaurants and shopping centres etc.
The minimum collection period allows those services to remain operational at their current quality while at the same time allowing the somewhat privacy conscious to have their history expun
Just turn it off (Score:2)
Just disable it in your Google account settings. I've had all that stuff turned off since the settings have existed, back when I was using Google.
Scroll down to the second header: https://support.google.com/acc... [google.com]
News for Nerds (Score:3)
It's not really a tool for the general populace, but since it's Slashdot: https://script.google.com/ [google.com]
I haven't used it for location history but I use it for a lot of email related stuff and if you have just a wee bit of programming ability you can automate a lot of useful things and cleanup tasks.
Yet Another Digital Placebo (Score:1)
"The illusion of control is the exaggerated belief in influencing an outcome we can't control."
....in this case, the "outcome" is access to your data by public/private entities for the unforeseeable future- regardless of you clicking the Delete button.
You only delete your own copy (Score:1)
Google keeps, and will always keep, a complete record of all data collected, and make it available to the government.
With Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and other American companies that collect data on you, the only privacy you get is privacy from other users. Never from the company, and never from the government.
Messages - I can't bulk delete old text messages! (Score:2)