Google Maps adds a series of notable new security options

The platform can track the places you've visited, the places you've been, and everything you search for. While these aren't bad in themselves and contribute to a more fulfilling user experience, it's reasonable to feel concerned. Fortunately, thanks to the new update, there are now more settings options for users to manage their personal data on Google Maps.

Accordingly, Google Maps has just added a series of new features to help you better control your personal information. The Google Maps app on iOS and Android now allows users to delete activity associated with specific locations, providing a streamlined process for deleting search queries, directions, visits, and index shares. with a few taps.

The iconic blue dot on Google Maps, which indicates your location on the map, serves as the gateway to location control. Clicking this blue dot will give you access to information about the status of your Location History and Timeline settings. If you want to turn on Location History, your history will now be created on your device and saved right on your phone instead of automatically uploaded to the cloud. In case you want to keep your previous location history, you will have to accept the new terms and choose your settings by June 9, 2024. The auto-delete option will now be set at three months by default instead of 18 months.

All of these changes offer better privacy, but also mean you'll have to back up and move data manually after changing phones. In a statement, a Google Maps representative said: "If you're about to buy a new phone or are worried about losing your existing one, you can always choose to back up your data to the cloud so that data is not lost. We will automatically encrypt your backup data so that no one can read it, not even Google".

David Pac

Update 15 December 2023