Apple users are being urged to delete Google Maps from their phone after an article highlighted what data the app actually receives.
The Google Maps' Privacy Label on the App Store reveals it can collect a variety of personal details from financial information to your search history. The article also highlighted the sheer amount of information Google Maps now collects from users - including linking data to you personal identity.
The Forbes article said that these privacy settings had "serious implications" for more than one billion iPhone users "as the fight for your data and your loyalty has suddenly intensified."
They went on to continue: "But even as we have clicked to deny all these apps access under 'Location Services' in our iPhone’s settings, we clearly cannot do the same with mapping apps."
Google is known as the "world’s largest data-driven advertising company" and therefore they need to make money. They do this through advertising which helps to run Google Maps however Apple does not do this, posing the question, who do you trust?
Speaking to Forbes, Google said their maps are "designed to protect your information. We provide controls to easily manage your settings and use industry-leading technologies like differential privacy to keep your data safe.
"We continue to make Google Maps the best and most accurate way to navigate and explore the world - providing rich local business information, best in class search and navigation, and helpful features like the covid layer and live busyness information."
So as handy as the app is, it may be time to consider deleting it from your phone and using a trusted app.
Alternatively if you want to stick with Goggle Maps, you can stop the app from harvesting data by selecting Incognito mode.
This will allow the user to carry out their usual activities without the information being linked back to them. However, it will limit the capability of the app.
To turn on incognito mode, follow these two steps:
- Open Google Maps and click the profile icon in the upper right corner
- Click 'Turn on incognito mode'
