Did you turn off location tracking on your Google account and assume that the massive search engine conglomerate stopped following your every move? That’s cute. It turns out that Google monitors your movements even if you opt out of location-based services. But there is a way to actually stop Google from following you.
via GIPHY
Google’s Big Brother-like surveillance of your movements continue even when you disable Google Location History, Google Maps, and other location-based apps according to a report by AP and K. Shankari, a graduate researcher at UC Berkeley who studies the commuting patterns of volunteers in order to help urban planners. “Some Google apps automatically store time-stamped location data without asking.”
via GIPHY
No matter if you have an Android or iOS smartphone, Google users are being watched. You’ll need to go to a different setting than location to stop Google from tracking you (and this setting is basically hidden). The Guardian provided step-by-step directions on how to stop Google from tracking you.
To do so on an Android device follow these steps:
To turn off location history:
To do so for iPhones, iPads and computers:
Alternatively, you can navigate to the setting by following these steps:
I’m sure that Google can still track you based on which cell towers you are using so this is probably all for naught.
