Google Says It Might Have Deleted Your Maps Timeline Data (arstechnica.com) 14
Google has confirmed that a technical issue has permanently deleted location history data for numerous users of its Maps application, with no recovery possible for most affected customers. The problem emerged after Google transitioned its Timeline feature from cloud to on-device storage in 2024 to enhance privacy protections. Users began reporting missing historical location data on support forums and social media platforms in recent weeks. "This is the result of a technical issue and not user error or an intentional change," said a Google spokesperson. Only users who manually enabled encrypted cloud backups before the incident can recover their data, according to Google. The company began shifting location storage policies in 2023, initially stopping collection of sensitive location data including visits to abortion clinics and domestic violence shelters.
Never used it (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
And yet you most certainly have it. That's the thing about timeline you weren't really give the option to not have one.
Backup (Score:5, Funny)
Can't they ask the NSA for their backup copy?
Re: (Score:1)
The right to be forgotten. (Score:2)
Recovered, but... how to do a local backup? (Score:4, Interesting)
For me, the timeline is a 10 year trip down memory lane where I've been.
Fortunately, the backups were possible to restore (after app update to the latest version).
To be safe from the next mishap, I wanted to download the location backup to my own backup, or the timeline on my device.
It does not seem to be possible! The "encrypted backup" is locked in my google drive, only accessible to the maps app for storing and restoring.
Even Google Takeout does not export the data.
Do I need to jailbreak a device to be able to archive (and possibly restore) my own data?
Or do a GDPR "give me the personal data you store in machine format" request?
Re: (Score:2)
The timeline *is* local. The backup is in the cloud. The way they've set it up there's no additional backup possible.
Re: (Score:2)
Google Wiped My Maps History - recovered w/trick (Score:5, Interesting)
What worked for me was adding a second Google account that had never used maps on the phone and immediately my entire history returned. So Google didn't exactly wipe it out, they just made it inaccessible to the primary account that was 'connected' to the data... and somehow accessible to a brand new account that never had seen the data. Weird. But it worked.
I'm sure there's a lesson here not to trust Google after all the products they've destroyed over the years (like Nest, Withings, etc.) but I really thought they'd never do the thing that they did here, I never thought they'd wipe out my travel history.
Fortunately... (Score:2)
...it was just a pleasant curiousity for most purposes. My driving trip to the N. slope of Alaska from Virginia was fun to look at, and my visit to a 7-11 in Virginia during the same time-frame as the January 6, 2021 events in DC could have been useful as an alibi. Otherwise, I think I may have just lost a cute toy. Not terribly broken up about it.
"The problem" (Score:3)
Great, do the rest next (Score:2)