Not true. The data collection is active only in 'High accuracy' and 'Battery saving' modes. Both these modes are services, the phone asks Google servers "I see

Not true. The data collection is active only in 'High accuracy' and 'Battery saving' modes. Both these modes are services, the phone asks Google servers "I see wifi with SSID ABC and MAC 0:1:2:3:4:5, where am I?" or "I see celltower of provider 0123, with id 456, where am I?". In 'Device only' mode, your location is determined purely by the device hardware. If anyone, it's Qualcomm who knows about you, due to AGPS request. Then there is a separate service, Location History, that can be turned off.