Google to delete user’s location history, cuts down on automatic location backup

New Delhi: Google will delete all previously stored location data by December 1, giving users time to save their old journeys. The "timeline" feature, previously known as Location History, will still be available, but all necessary data will now be stored locally on users' devices instead of Google's servers.

Google is also shortening the default storage duration for location history from 18 months to three months. Users can still back up and sync their data across devices, though this will no longer be automatic.

In a blog post, Google emphasised its commitment to user privacy, stating that location information is personal.

"Your location information is personal," the company stated. "We’re committed to keeping it safe, private, and under your control. Remember: Google Maps never sells your data to anyone, including advertisers."

This decision comes amid increasing pressure to protect user privacy from law enforcement demands for stored information.