Google has acknowledged an incident resulting in the deletion of Google Maps Timeline data for a segment of its user base. The issue, which surfaced through user reports on platforms like Reddit, has been attributed to a “technical issue.”
According to Google spokesperson Genevieve Park, the data loss primarily affects users who did not have cloud backups enabled for their Google Maps Timeline. Users who had activated cloud backups are likely to recover their data.
A Reddit post, highlighted by Android Authority, revealed that some users received email communication from Google with recovery instructions for those utilizing the cloud backup feature. To ascertain the status of cloud backups, users can navigate to “Your timeline” within the Google Maps app and examine the cloud icon. An arrow indicates enabled backups, while a line signifies disabled backups.
Google had previously announced a transition to on-device storage for Google Maps location data, emphasizing user privacy. This shift, however, introduced the potential for data loss in scenarios such as the recent technical issue.
While Google Maps provides an option to export location history data to a file, the company’s recovery instructions do not include a method for re-importing data without relying on cloud backup servers.
The incident underscores the importance of enabling cloud backups for Google Maps Timeline data. Users who opted for on-device storage without enabling cloud backups may face permanent data loss.
