Google Maps: If you want to keep your timeline, you have to act

Google Maps is moving the personal timeline data for more and more users to the app and therefore to the device they are using. Numerous Maps users in Germany are currently receiving a notice that they must transfer their personal timeline by May 2025 if they do not want to lose the data.

On the timeline (formerly "location history", in the English-language app "Timeline"), Google stores the location data of the devices that are connected to the Google account. This results in a fairly accurate movement profile of the account holder, but only if they have previously activated this function.

From the cloud to the device

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

This is no longer possible after transferring to the device. The timeline can then only be viewed on the device on which the data is stored. If you want to keep your timeline, you should still agree, as Google will otherwise delete all data around six months after the first notification.

At the end of 2023, Google announced that it would in future store the timeline on the device and no longer in the cloud. The company did not provide any information on the number of users affected, a timetable for the conversion of all accounts or other background information when asked.

Since summer 2024, users have been asked in batches to consent to the transfer of their timeline to their tablet or smartphone. As part of the transfer, users can also object to the data being used for advertising purposes or product improvement.

In addition, Google is shortening the period after which the data is automatically deleted from 18 to three months. The automatic deletion period is active by default. If you want to keep your timeline for longer, you must switch off the automatic deletion in the settings of the Maps app.

Encrypted backup

In the Maps app (Android and iOS), it is now possible to save an encrypted backup of the timeline data in the cloud. This means that the timeline can also be transferred to a new device. The backup can be switched on or off in the Maps app using the cloud icon at the top right of the timeline view.

While Google does not provide any background information, some media reports speculate about possible legal motives. On the one hand, local storage is a data protection 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 for the release of location and search engine data on a large scale, even for the investigation of relatively minor crimes. Google had to hand over data on devices that were in a certain location at a certain time.

With the change, Google can no longer hand over this data because the company does not hold it in unencrypted form. The civil rights organization Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has therefore described the change as "fantastic news for users".

(vbr)