Google Maps Starts Rolling Out "Timeline" Location Updates With Better Privacy

"Timeline" is no longer stored on Google servers (photo: dock. pexels)

JAKARTA - In December last year, Google announced major changes to the "Location History" feature on Maps. This feature, which has now changed its name to "Timeline", will store live location data on users' devices, instead of cloud-based as before. Currently, the update is still in the process of rolling out in stages.

With this new system, "Timeline" is no longer stored on Google servers, but directly on users' devices. This change aims to increase privacy, so Google can no longer respond to geofence-based location data requests from third parties.

However, there are some consequences of this approach. "Timeline" data are now specific on one device, so they cannot be combined from different devices. In addition, the "Your Timeline" feature can no longer be accessed via the web.

To accommodate this change, Google introduced a backup system and data transfer between devices. Users will receive an email notification with the subject "Keep your Timeline? Decide by [due]" when this update is available for their account.

After receiving the notification, users are given about six months to decide whether to save and move their "Timeline" data. If there is no action in that period, the data will be automatically deleted.

Google insists that this update will be rolled out in stages throughout 2024. A Google spokesperson stated:

"As we said in our blog, this update was released in stages. Users will see a different deletion deadline, about six months since they were first notified of this change."

To date, notification emails have not been sent to all users, and no changes will occur before the user receives the notification.

If you receive a notification regarding this change, make sure to immediately take action through the Google Maps app on your Android or iOS device. This change gives users quite a long time to decide, so there is no need to rush.

With this device-based approach, Google demonstrates its commitment to increasing user privacy. Despite some new limitations, this system is believed to provide greater control over your location data.