Before Google Maps and its navigation services became widely available, visiting new places and navigating unfamiliar streets was quite the challenge. Getting routes to nearby restaurants or locating stores was also not an easy task. Google’s location-finding services and the Maps application have undoubtedly made life more convenient in a lot of ways. That said, there is always this question of how Google determines the exact location and what it does with that information.
How does Google determine a user’s exact location?
Google uses several different ways to find the exact or most accurate possible location of a device. Some ways can also differ based on the type of device one is using.
Android tools
Individuals who use an Android phone primarily rely on Google Maps for navigation or looking around at their own location. Google employs a variety of tools and techniques to pinpoint the precise location of a user’s device, which it then uses for navigation and other purposes. These different techniques include the use of a global positioning system (or GPS) and various sensors, such as a gyroscope, magnetometer, accelerometer, and barometer, present in the phone.
Google also offers a service known as Google Location Accuracy (GLA), which utilizes additional resources. The GLA, along with input from all of these sources, also uses the network signals of the device and the Wi-Fi signal to give the best possible estimate of the device’s exact location. When GLA is turned off, Google can still give a good estimate of the device location by relying on GPS and the sensors.
IP address
The Internet Protocol address, or the IP address, is a string of numbers that is given to a device by the Internet service provider. An IP address is a device’s unique identifier. One factor that determines a device’s IP address is its geographic location. Whenever a device accesses a website or a web service, its IP address is used to establish the connection and send and receive the data over the internet. Google and various other services that one uses on the internet can find the general area where the device is located with the use of its IP address.
Google can access the location details of Android devices and iOS devices when they use a Google service (like Maps or Google Search). However, the user must grant permission for Google to access the location on either of these devices.
How does Google use location details?
There are several reasons why Google uses and needs a device’s location details.
Maps
This is quite an apparent one. Google uses a device’s location details to provide navigation details, information about nearby spots, etc., via Maps. Once a user permits the Maps application to access location services, Google uses the input from the sensors, GPS, and signals for the app.
Ads
Google also uses location information to show individuals more relevant ads based on their location. For instance, if an individual looks up restaurants nearby, Google can show them ads from the eateries located in the vicinity.
Contextual suggestions
Similar to how Google utilizes location data for its ad feature, it also leverages this information to enhance the overall search experience for users. For instance, consider the scenario where a user is searching for a nearby restaurant. With location details, Google can simply provide a list of nearby restaurants without necessarily displaying ads. Individuals will not need to mention their own area for relevant search results.
Is it possible to control how Google uses location information?
Most smartphones have a feature called Web & App Activity. When the feature is turned on, and the device has a Google account signed in, the feature stores some general information about the locations individuals visit. The information is stored based on the Google services individuals use at those locations. Google then uses this information to offer users a more personalized and relevant experience across platforms such as Maps, Search, etc. Individuals can, however, control Google’s use of this information by visiting its “My Ad Center.” On this website, they can simply turn off the option of personalized ads, and Google will no longer use their saved location details to show ads. They can also turn off their Web & App Activity feature to stop saving their location activity in the future.
What are some other advantages of Google’s use of location services?
Besides using location services for personalized ads and maps and improving search results, Google also uses them to protect users.
Security
By accessing and storing a device’s location details, Google can detect and notify a user of any unusual activity on their account. Google can also alert a user if they sign in to their account from a new city.
Find my device
Yet another security feature that individuals can benefit from, thanks to Google’s location accessing services, is “Find My Phone” or “Find My Device.” This feature allows a user to track their phone on a map when it gets lost or stolen. It also allows them to play a sound on the lost phone or turn on its LED flashlight so they can spot it easily. In case the device gets stolen, the feature also allows individuals to erase all data on it to keep sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.