Nerd flex challenge: post a screenshot showing when you disabled your Google Maps location history. Mine: Over 5 years ago. No GIMP or F12 cheaters allowed!
To find it, go to Google[dot]com → Manage your account → Data & privacy → Things you’ve done and places you’ve been → Timeline → Off
While you're there, disable and delete other stuff, too.
CET @tom_fichtner_leipzig Extra points for not trusting Google honoring that setting (or really any setting) and ditching Google in favor of a privacy-respecting maps service
@shaedrich Fair point! However, claiming that Google does *not* honor this custom privacy setting (whether by design or mistake) is a bold allegation that needs some evidence to back it up. Extra points are great, but when it comes to platform services and value providers, I’m not convinced a fully decentralized (open-source) service can match the features and data quality without trade-offs. (I do use OpenStreetMap-based apps/platforms for offroad hiking, but not for general navigation.)
@tom_fichtner_leipzig I never said, they do not. But Google has proven time and again that you better not trust them as it is usually not that they don't do an illegal thing but rather that there just has not been evidence YET proving that they do, meaning, it's only a matter of time
@shaedrich OK, I looked up evidence for your claim via Perplexity and found:
1. In 2018, it was revealed that Google tracked users' locations even after they disabled "Location History."
2. In 2023, Google settled a $5 billion lawsuit for tracking users in "Incognito" mode.
3. A 2024 leak showed Google tracked numerous privacy issues from 2013 to 2018.
Sources:
1: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/attorney-general-josh-shapiro-announces-391-million-settlement-with-google-over-location-tracking-practices/
2: https://www.marketing-interactive.com/google-privacy-lawsuit
3: https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/google-leak-shows-privacy-issues-were-kept-internal-for/475103
Actually more than I realized. Thanks for pointers!
@tom_fichtner_leipzig My pleasure :)
@tom_fichtner_leipzig in the end it's a question, everyone has to answer for themselves: Do I value having the perfect app higher than my privacy (and potentially that of others)?
@shaedrich OK, challenge update: when did you stop using Google Maps and fully switched to privacy-focused or decentralized alternatives? Me: not yet, at least not for general purpose.
Me: Since the Big Bang. When I migrated from Symbian to the Android world I NEVER operated a stock Android. First i used CyanogenMOD, then LineageOS, /e/OS and iodé. The latter is my daily driver.
From the beginning of time no Google service, none. No cloud, no mail, no maps.
For navi OSMAnd, MagicEarth, OrganicMaps.
About the quality of Google maps:
https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/21/google_maps_bridge_death
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/misled-by-google-maps-3-men-die-after-driving-their-car-off-incomplete-bridge-in-india
@tom_fichtner_leipzig I had had it on since forever because it was genuinely useful sometimes, but I turned it off a few months ago when they made it mandatory to move it on-device or lose all history. It pushed me to look for a #FOSS and #selfhosted alternative and now I'm using @dawarich (https://dawarich.app/). Still in very early stages, but I'm already getting data into it (using @owntracks) for when it becomes more mature.
@dtc @owntracks Wow, that's interesting! I never really knew why I would need location history (except for playing around and looking at fancy graphs of my life), but seeing a self-hosted tool makes me think maybe I should try this for my next vacation. Looking at the source and README.md, it seems like it's finally time for me to get some docker-ready hosting somewhere. Thanks for sharing!
Lauteshirn 
@tom_fichtner_leipzig I can only find the date when I disabled web and app activies, but not for timeline.