Google is making some welcome changes to how Android apps handle location data, making it easier for users to protect theirs.
In a company blog post, Google announced it is making changes that will sound eerily similar to features that made their way to iOS 13, including the ability to only share location a single time.
“Now in Android 11, we’re giving users even more control with the ability to grant a temporary ‘one-time’ permission to sensitive data like location,” wrote Krish Vitaldevara, Director of Product Management Trust & Safety, Google Play. “When users select this option, apps can only access the data until the user moves away from the app, and they must then request permission again for the next access.”
Google also noticed that many apps accessing location data in the background didn’t actually need it and could function just as well only accessing location data when active. As a result, Google will be updating Google Play policies later this year to clearly outline when an app can or cannot access location data in the background. These rules will apply equally to Google’s own apps.
These changes are good news for all Android users and come at a time when privacy is becoming more important than ever.