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Somewhat relevant: Google Maps can learn the location of your IP based on which locations you browse in the map. If you browse a specific location enough times,
by hddqsb 3y ago
Somewhat relevant: Google Maps can learn the location of your IP based on which locations you browse in the map. If you browse a specific location enough times, it will use that as the default location when you open Google Maps, even if you clear all cookies. (I discovered this just from using Google Maps, and I'm a little concerned by the privacy implications, considering that multiple people may share an IP address.)
- gniv 3y agoI suspect it's the other way around. Google just has a very good IP geolocation db, so it uses that when you browse, absent any other info.
- netsharc 3y agoWell it has reporting beacons all over the world with GPS receivers, in the form of Android phones, and perhaps Google Maps users on iPhone too..
- hddqsb 3y agoGoogle certainly uses its geolocation DB, but it also learns based on map browsing patterns. To clarify, the scenario I described is as follows: 1. Initially, when I open Google Maps in a clean browser it defaults to my real location. 2. I repeatedly browse some other location. 3. When I open Google Maps in a clean browser, it defaults to that other location. The only reason for Google Maps to pick that other location is my map browsing.
- is_true 3y agoThat would explain why it sometimes it thinks I'm in a river I paddle often and other times where I have my summer house.
- cvalka 3y agoThey use this for Google Workspace and data localization (including law enforcement localization).