Google Maps Timeline Changes!
Google has announced significant changes to its Maps Timeline feature, which will take effect on December 1, 2024.
Moving forward, Timeline data will be stored locally on users’ devices instead of in their Google accounts. This change was initially announced in December 2023, along with updates to the auto-delete control for Location History, reducing the default setting from 18 months to three months. The Google Maps Timeline helps users track their routes, trips, and visited places, assuming Location History and Web & App Activity settings are enabled.
However, with the new change to store data on devices, Google will remove the ability to view this data on the web. Google stated that since the data will originate directly from users’ devices, Timeline won’t be available on Maps on computers after the data transfer. The updates are gradually rolling out to all Google Maps app users. Additionally, users are encouraged to enable backups to save an encrypted copy of their Timeline data on Google’s servers to facilitate data transfer when switching devices.
These changes are part of Google’s response to allegations of misleading consumers and illegally tracking their movements, even when Location History was turned off but Web & App Activity was left on. This issue came to light in a 2018 Associated Press investigation. As a result, Google has settled with several U.S. states and agreed to pay $62 million to various non-profits in April 2024, although a similar lawsuit in Texas is still pending.
