Hi, creator of the Owntracks Android app here. I'm absolutely with you that you cannot have private and secure location data when using any Google services. I

Hi, creator of the Owntracks Android app here. I'm absolutely with you that you cannot have private and secure location data when using any Google services. Indeed, Owntracks does use Google Maps and the Google Play Services location APIs and your location data is likely sent to Google when using the app and we're very clear that this is the case. However, when using Android, it's almost impossible to not send any personal data to Google when using an Android phone (or to Apple if you're using an iPhone). Hence, we decided to not use any third party location or APIs and for several reasons: 1) Google likely has your location data anyway because you're using their operating system 2) I personally would trust my data to Google than any third party that's not that closely monitored by others. We tried to integrate Mapbox as Mapping provider for the 0.5.x release until they likewise started gathering user data. Thus the next version switches back to Google Maps. 3) The offered location APIs are much easier on the battery life than any third party solution 4) We develop Owntracks in our spare time and receive no funding whatsoever. Hence, the time that we can invest into the integration of other Maps or location providers is very limited. Besides that, Owntracks does allow you to store your location data on your own infrastructure. You are free to choose whatever you want with that data and you're not trusting a third party (besides Google) with your data. Personally I think that this isn't a perfect solution, but it is as good as it gets for the majority of smartphones. If that isn't good enough with you that's fine and I totally understand that. In that case, simply don't use the app and build something that you can trust entirely. E.g. some people from our development team are happily tracking their cars with a hardware appliance that is Owntracks compatible [1] [1] jpmens.net/2014/06/14/owntracks-in-a-vehicle-choral-greenwich