Google Is Now Making It Clearer Exactly When It's Saving Your Location Data Even When Disabled

Earlier this week, reports emerged that Google continues to track users¡¯ location data even when they turn location sharing off. Since then, the company has come under fire for the shady practice, and it¡¯s now attempting to clear the air.

We had reported how, even when you revoke access to your location, a separate Location history feature remains active by default, until you manually enter the settings and change it. In addition, this particular bit of information wasn¡¯t explicitly stated anywhere, despite Google¡¯s claims to the contrary.

Now, the company has updated its Help page, clarifying that it does in fact track a user¡¯s location data. Supposedly, as the company has said before, this is to ¡°improve the Google experience¡±.

Earlier, the page used to say, ¡°You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored.¡± Clearly a little vague to anyone reading. The new text now instead says, ¡°This setting does not affect other location services on your device, like Google Location Services and Find My Device. Some location data may be saved as part of your activity on other services, like Search and Maps.¡±

At least that¡¯s somewhat clearer, if still a little stilted.