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Android Users Need To Delete Google Maps and Google Play If They Don't Want Their Locations Tracked (theregister.co.uk)

Kieren McCarthy, reporting for The Register: Google, it seems, is very, very interested in knowing where you are at all times. Users have reported battery life issues with the latest Android build, with many pointing the finger at Google Play -- Google's app store -- and its persistent, almost obsessive need to check where you are. Amid complaints that Google Play is always switching on GPS, it appears Google has made it impossible to prevent the app store from tracking your whereabouts unless you completely kill off location tracking for all applications. You can try to deny Google Play access to your handheld's location by opening the Settings app and digging through Apps -> Google Play Store -> Permissions, and flipping the switch for "location." But you'll be told you can't just shut out Google Play services: you have to switch off location services for all apps if you want to block the store from knowing your whereabouts. It's all or nothing, which isn't particularly nice. This is because Google Play services pass on your location to installed apps via an API. The store also sends your whereabouts to Google to process. Google doesn't want you to turn this off.

3 of 395 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why is this a problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    big brother was always the cool guy that got us porn, beer and cigs.... now little sister was the freaking rat! I now call all surveillance Little Sister.

  2. Use Apple Maps and no one will find you by jfdavis668 · · Score: 5, Funny

    You won't even know where you are.

  3. Re:Why is this a problem? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 4, Funny

    but how to you feel if that info was passed to the FBI / CIA / NSA / ETC?

    As long as the phone has a headphone jack, he's okay with it.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.