Google Vows To Better Disclosures With Controls Linked To Location Tracking Of Android Users

A major privacy investigation has brought Google back to the reality that things aren’t going to get better themselves in the world of location tracking unless changes are implemented.

Hence, the tech giant is now vowing to enhance disclosures with controls related to location tracking. This is for both Android users and all account holders. And it comes as the search engine giant prepares to settle a mega $392 million dollar lawsuit.

Google is settling a new ongoing investigation involving up to 40 different US states and how it’s tracking the locations of so many users as well.

After reaching the settlement, the company did publish a new press release that spoke of its plans to eliminate three changes for the firm’s products that would provide more controls and transparency linked to a user's location data. The changes would appear by early next year.

The initial changes would involve adding a set of new disclosures linked to location data and Activity Controls. This would go on expanding to data and privacy features too. Meanwhile, the company is also planning to roll out a new hub related to location data that puts some of the main location settings on display.

There will even be added convenience that gives users the chance to disguise their location history and delete any relevant details of the user in a simple flow. On the other hand, Google would also be disclosing more web and app activity settings when the initial setup takes place.

The changes arise after a few other privacy settings were made by the organization in the past few years. In the past year, we’ve seen Google launch the ability for users to get rid of data in an automatic manner. This would be done on the optional basis of 3 months, 18 months, and 36 months. On the other hand, we’re seeing the search engine giant put out an option that deletes 15 minutes of the user’s account history. And that too, with the help of a single click. If that’s not what you call convenience, then we’re not quite sure what is.

From all of this, we can clearly see that Google wants to learn from its mistakes and prevent them from happening in the future too.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World