this post was submitted on 16 Dec 2023
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Privacy
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I guess the catch is the fact that they don't really need it. They have real time location from any Android device anyways (because of that feature that sends the lists of wifi networks around you from time to time), no need to storage the timeline on their servers, it's only duplicate data. lol
It was kinda cool for some things.
Like seeing where I went on October 14, 2018.
Or how many times I visited the "Steve's Spaghetti Store".
I use it to make documentation easier for work. I have to log visit times, travel time and mileage for each patient I visit. So much easier to pull up the info of my phone after work than to remember to track miles and log time getting in and out of my car.
I refuse to believe this isn't a problem easily solved by a separate app. Perhaps one that even logs to your device only for some additional security.
Well, there is a "solution" in the works. It's currently not required for my position and will only initially apply to Medicare (or Medicaid - don't recall which) patients.
The hospital provides field staff with cell phones. There's an app we're just getting training on that will time stamp our visits, travel, and mileage, as well as track GPS for verification of visits. It will also flag and ask for clarification if travel time exceeds expectation.
Currently we self report, so if I stop at McDonald's because I have to pee, it's nobodies business. Many of my coworkers are less than thrilled with the new app (honestly most aren't that fond of tech or changes to begin with) even though management is attempting to reassure that they're really not intending to track us, it's just for patient verification (for the very small percentage of patients it applies to.)
I like to see how many miles I drove for work everyi month. I drove 2400 miles so far in December
As much as I'm careful about Google keeping my data, I have to recognize that this has helped a friend tremendously. He was separated from his ex, she had left with their daughter, and he was trying to get split custody. She testified he was a deadbeat dad, and she put it in writing that he had never been to pick up their daughter at school, never taken her to her regular weekend club activities, etc.
He reached out to me asking if his location history could help prove she was full of shit. It took me an hour or so to figure out the right way to process the data, but then I was able to give him a detailed list of dates and times he had been to his daughter's school, poney club, etc. His lawyer attached that to their rebuttal. I like to think it made a significant difference. He did get joint custody in the end.
Or creepy, because others see your timeline too.
Turn that off with (on pixel / aosp) Settings, Location, Location services, turn both to off.
Seems unlikely, GPS data is far more accurate and lots of security minded m people turn off WiFi when away from home but still need gps when out and about
Also Bluetooth scanning. Google trys to dark pattern you in to re-enabling them both, but maps will eventually use GPS if you cancel and try again.
Even Apple is now doing that thing where they'll re-enable both after a while.
Is there a setting to turn this off?
No, your only option would be to move to something like GrapheneOS if you can. Note that other alternativa ROMs like Calyx will also share some location data with some companies.