Alexander Lewis 
Dec 17, 2023
In a significant development, Google is planning to change how it handles users' location data, allowing them to store it on their devices instead of on Google's servers.
This move is expected to put an end to a practice where law enforcement could access Google's extensive location data to identify potential criminals through geofence warrants.
Geofence warrants involve demanding information from Google about users' devices in a specific geographic area at a particular time.
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Critics argue that geofence warrants are unconstitutional and overly broad, encompassing data from innocent individuals near a crime scene.
Google's recent announcement did not specifically mention geofence warrants but emphasised giving users more control over their data. Subsequently, this change forces law enforcement to obtain a search warrant for the specific device rather than requesting data from Google.
While other companies, such as Microsoft and Yahoo, also receive geofence warrants, Google has been the primary target due to its massive collection of sensitive location data.
The revelation of police tapping Google for location data surfaced in 2019, revealing Google's pivotal role in driving its advertising business.
Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo supported a failed New York state bill that aimed to ban geofence warrants. Although Google has disclosed receiving thousands of geofence warrants annually, details about how often the company resists these demands remain unclear.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation cautiously welcomed Google's move but noted that other legal demands, like "reverse keyword" warrants, still pose a risk to users' privacy.
Google's decision may not eliminate geofence warrants immediately, as historical location data is still accessible until Google decides otherwise. Despite this, closing the door on geofence warrants could mark a significant step toward curtailing this surveillance loophole.
