Google limits Police from Accessing Location Data
Google Migrates Location History Data
Google recently made significant changes to the service formerly known as “Location History.” This service has been renamed Timeline. While the service remains very similar, one significant change will alter how and if this data can be seized using various law enforcement search techniques.
Google’s Sensorvault
For years, Google allowed the Location History service users to store their location data within the Sensorvault. This storage facility became a repository for over 500 million user accounts and their location data. After law enforcement learned this database could be used to pursue unknown suspects, Google began to receive search warrants, now known as Google Geofence warrants.
Using this search warrant, law enforcement does not have to name the individual account it wishes to seize data from; instead, they simply name Google as the location to be searched and hope that the data they are looking for is stored in their servers. This technique differs from most property warrants, which name a specific location and reason to believe that evidence exists.
The Basic Geofence Demand
Geofence warrants are typically structured in a stepped approach. Each step is designed to get law enforcement from an unknown suspect to a known suspect by first analyzing anonymized location data and eventually revealing the user’s name, email and other subscriber identifiers.
Geofence warrants use geographical coordinates to outline the area where Google must return data, with a time frame for the relevant crime. For example, if a crime happened inside a convenience store at 10 pm, the warrant may be written to encompass the property that the store is on and the time frame may cover 30 minutes before and after the crime. Google then searches all the user data they possess to determine which users have data law enforcement may be interested in. If that data is located, it will be returned pursuant to the warrant. Google must obviously possess this data in order to search it.
Significant Changes
In December 2023, Google, Inc. announced changes impacting law enforcement’s ability to request this search.1 Google will now migrate user data from the Sensorvault to the user’s device. This would make it impossible for Google to search and return the user’s location data to law enforcement. Once this change takes effect, law enforcement must identify the person and device from which they seek to obtain location data.
If you’re among the subset of users who have chosen to turn Location History on (it’s off by default), soon your Timeline will be saved right on your device — giving you even more control over your data. - Marlo McGriff, Google, Inc
This summer, The Verge reported users have until December 1, 2024, to migrate and save their Location History data before it is deleted.2
Do you have Location History?
Location History or Timeline is the data Google uses to respond to Geofence warrants. If you have location data in this section of your account, that data can be searched using this technique.
Open the Google Maps application on your device.
At the top right corner, Select your avatar or initials icon.
Select, Your Timeline
You can manage these settings under Manage Your Google Account.
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Updates to Location History and new controls coming soon to Maps (blog.google)
Google Maps is making a big privacy change to protect your location history - The Verge