Google Maps: If you want to keep your timeline, you’ll have to do the work

Google Maps is moving more and more users’ personal timeline data into the app and thus onto the devices they are using. Many Maps users in Germany are currently receiving a notice that they must move their personal timeline to May 2025 if they do not want to lose data.

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On Timeline (formerly “Location History”, the English-language app “Timeline”), Google stores location data from devices that are linked to a Google Account. This results in a fairly accurate activity profile of account holders – but only if they have previously activated this function.

From cloud to device

The data is currently stored in Google Cloud and therefore available on all devices linked to the account. Many users appreciate the ability to navigate their own timeline on Google Maps in the browser or make improvements there.

This is not possible once the data is transferred to the device. The Timeline can only be viewed on the device on which the data is located. If you want to keep your Timeline, you must still agree, otherwise Google will delete all data approximately six months after the first notice.

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Google announced in late 2023To save the timeline on the device in the future and no longer in the cloud. When asked, the company did not provide information about the number of users affected, a timetable for the conversion of all accounts or other background information.

Starting in the summer of 2024, users are asked to agree to the timeline being transferred to their tablet or smartphone in batches. As part of the transfer, users can also object to the data being used for advertising purposes or to improve products.

Additionally, Google is also reducing the period after which data is automatically deleted from 18 to three months. The automatic deletion period is pre-activated. If you want to keep your timeline longer, you’ll need to turn off the automatic function in the Maps app settings.

encrypted backup

Maps app (Android and iOS) now has this option Store encrypted backups of Timeline data in the cloudThis means that the timeline can also be transferred to a new device. Backups can be turned on or off in the Maps app using the cloud symbol at the top right of the Timeline view.

Although Google does not provide any information about the background, some media reports speculate about possible legal motives. On the one hand, local storage is a data security benefit for all users. On the other hand, Google removes this sensitive data from the reach of the US judiciary.

US investigators had obtained court orders to release massive amounts of location and search engine data, even to solve relatively minor crimes. Google had to hand over data about devices that were in one place at a certain time.

With the change, Google can no longer release this data because the company does not have it unencrypted. Civil rights organization Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) described the change as “great news for users”.

(vbr)