Google Maps is getting a privacy update that gives users new ways to manage their information on the platform.
First, the app starts collecting your recent activities in one central location, where you can view places you've been in the past, the date you went there, and the amount of time you spent. You can even “delete your searches, directions… and shared posts” in the same hub.
Look at Google's announcement, it seems that you can delete each item one by one or the whole thing. A window will appear on the screen letting you know what is being thrown away. The data pack contains photos, reviews, feedback reports, saved lists, and more that you've created about a location.
Tapping the blue dot on Google Maps will now open a settings menu for the Timeline and Location History features, showing you whether either tool is enabled and whether the app can access your device's location. If you're not too familiar with it, Timeline uses data obtained from Location History to keep track of all the places you've been.
The uninstall tool and blue dot menu will roll out to Android and iOS phones in the coming weeks.
Save the timeline
There is another update; however, it won't be released until sometime next year. The upcoming feature will allow people to save their timeline recording directly to their device instead of leaving it in Google's cloud. If you do not want to leave any traces, you can of course delete all or part of your data in one go. Conversely, users can back up their data to the company servers at any time. Everything is encrypted so no one, not even Google, can take a peek.
Location History is getting a minor tweak. The auto-delete feature will “default to three months” instead of 18 months as it currently does. After this time has elapsed, all stored information will be deleted. If you want to go back to the longer period, you can change this at any time.
It's not known exactly when the timeline changes will roll out to Android or iOS in 2024, though Google says you'll receive an account notification when it eventually arrives.
Google Maps is full of fun little tricks that most people aren't aware of. If you want to know what they are, check out Ny Breaking's list of the 10 things you didn't know Google Maps could do.