Our location can be tracked through a combination of other methods, including connecting to mobile networks, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and the device’s IP address — which allow Google to make a rough estimate of where we are.
We use Google in our daily lives for everything: from email access, cloud storage, document creation, research, internet browsing, artificial intelligence assistance and much more.
It is present in our smartphones, smart speakers, televisions, security devices, home automation equipment and computers. All these devices communicate with the internet in one way or another and collect location data.
Users who are more concerned about their privacy can choose to disable the GPS on their cell phones to prevent their location from being identified.
That limits certain functionalities in some applications, but for some users, it’s worth the commitment. Yet somehow, Google still know where we arenote or .
How is this possible?
Our location can be tracked through a combination of other methods, including connection to mobile networks, Wi-Fi or Bluetoothand the IP address of the device.
These methods, alone or together, allow Google and other applications to obtain a estimate of our locationeven if they cannot determine exactly where it is.
We’ve all noticed that if we disable GPS on our cell phones, it’s still possible to ask the Gemini smart assistant what will be the time tonight in the area we are in, or ask for directions to a nearby cafe.
It may seem like magic, but there is an explanation logic for the fact that your cell phone can answer these questions correctly. If you’re connected to a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth network, Google can use access points nearby to get a general idea of where you are.
The most obvious method for a smartphone to determine your location with GPS turned off is through telecommunications towers. Your cell phone communicates with these towers to obtain a signal, and Google may use this information to calculate where the device is, measuring the time it takes for the device to communicate with each tower.
There is still the IP address of any device connected to the internet. Knowing this data also helps Google determine your location.
And as Google evolves with the power of Artificial intelligence, You can also use logical inferences. For example, if you have locations saved in your apps, such as “home” or “work,” and your device is connected to other smart devices in those locations, Google can assume you are in one of those places.
How to limit your location tracking
There are measures we can take to limit or make identification difficult of your location. One of them is disable Location History in your Google account to prevent the company from keeping a record of the places we visit.
If we have an Android device, we can disable location accuracy Google in the device settings, which limits tracking over Wi-FiBluetooth and sensor data when GPS is turned off.
The applications we install may also have location permissions assigned, as is the case with weather or fitness apps. Check the permissions of these applications and reject them to prevent trackingor change the authorizations to “only while using the application”.
O Location tracking is useful for several reasonsincluding physical activity tracking and car navigation, as well as for specific features such as planning public transport trips.
However, even if you turn off the GPSit is very likely that Google will still be able to determine your location by other means.
