In order to reassure users about the traceability of their data, Google has started deploying an update to its Google Maps application. In a post published on its blog, the Mountain View firm explains its approach, indicating that the objective is to allow the user to more easily control their location data on their smartphone.
Improved control over location data
Although practical on a daily basis, the Google Maps application worries some users concerned about the security of their data. An upcoming update will provide better control over recorded data. The functionality to automatically save the history of places visited on Google Maps will benefit from this: the history will be saved by default on the internal storage of the smartphone. However, the user can choose to continue saving their data in the Cloud, if they wish.
In the same vein, Google indicates that the default period for the automatic deletion of saved positions will be reduced to three months, compared to eighteen currently. Another improvement: it will soon be possible to delete them directly in the Maps application.
Google finally explains in its post that a shortcut is being deployed to access the settings of these parameters: the user will be able to touch the blue dot which displays their current position in Maps in order to instantly open this new menu.