How to Turn Off Google Location Tracking

2014-08-18 09:07:34

In response to a thread on Facebook where folks have suddenly realized that Google is tracking their movements, here is a quick tutorial on how to disable Google's tracking without completely disabling your ability to find out where the heck you are and what's around you.

Step One
Go to All Settings->General and select Accounts and Sync (I know, there's that Location button right there, but if this was easy people wouldn't be asking...)



Step Two
Select your Google account. I'm trusting you won't do anything crazy with the fact you know I have Zynga installed on my phone...




Step Three
Choose Location Settings



Step Four
Turn off "Let Google Apps Access your Location" -- note that bit below where it says "Google Apps may access your location when you aren't using them." That's the bit most people don't realize.




Now, you'll notice that I didn't turn off my location services. Honestly if someone like Google or the Federal government or the Illuminati want to know where I am, I'm pretty sure they can find me. It's part of living in the world, and I don't just mean the modern world -- powerful people have always had a way to find out what they want to know, and our attempts to hide are usually amateurish at best.

A couple related blogs you might want to look at:

Lack of Privacy as a Celebration of Life
http://michaelbissell.com/blog/7c1fbf78f4e111e0bb91f2eead2b5e7b/Lack_of_Privacy_as_a_Celebration_of_Life

Deja-Google and the World Traveller
http://michaelbissell.com/blog/19e41792391711e38a9169d8979dae8f/Deja-Google_and_the_world_traveller

Netflix is Watching
http://michaelbissell.com/blog/a756b12ee64011e0bee19d41ae2b5e7b/Netflix_Is_Watching

Your Phone is Spying on Everyone
http://michaelbissell.com/blog/2f09a4c0225a11e487e49fce241a1cf2/Your_Phone_is_Spying_on_Everyone

They Know Where You Are: Privacy and Google Maps
http://michaelbissell.com/blog/b86b8ee8dcff11e0a013c8dde0de1c23/They_Know_Where_You_Are:_Privacy_and_Google_Maps