EYES EVERYWHERE

Google Confirms It Tracks Users’ Locations Even When Location History Is Turned Off

Using Maps and automated weather updates.

Three days after the Associated Press released an explosive investigation into Google’s location-tracking capabilities, the company confirmed that yes, it still tracks users’ locations even if their Location History setting is turned off. The Associated Press reported Thursday that Google has since amended its help page, which now reads “[Location History] does not affect other location services on your device [...] some location data may be saved as part of your activity on other services, like Search and Maps.” Monday’s Associated Press report contradicted Google’s previous help page statement: “You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored.” As the Associated Press revealed, Google Maps, automatic weather updates, and searching “chocolate chip cookies” allow the company to pinpoint a user’s location independent of their Location History settings. Google denied the idea that it had lied to users in a Monday statement, noting that “We provide clear descriptions of these tools, and robust controls so people can turn them on or off, and delete their histories at any time.”