Google made it difficult for users to keep their location data private: Report

Google executives and engineers were aware of how difficult it was for smartphone users to keep their location data private, according to newly unredacted documents in a lawsuit against the internet company.

According to BusinessInsider, Google continued to collect location information even when users had turned off the location-sharing settings. The documents further reveal the company made privacy settings more difficult for users to spot. The company pressured OEMs such as LG and others into hiding the location settings citing popularity with users, according to documents.

The report further reveals that ex-VP of Google Maps Jack Menzel acknowledged that the only way Google will not know a person’s location if the person deliberately sets their home and work addresses to a different location.