August 25, 2021

Google Maps on Android and iOS now shows users instructions on how crowdsourced data is essential for the app, but the live turn-by-turn navigation only works if the user agrees to prompt.

Google uses users’ data: the app knows where users live, where they want to go, how far away they are from a destination and more. Now, the tech giant explicitly states what powers it has and lets users know what data it has access to.

This is presumably related to the “we protect your privacy” message that began at I/O 2021. Since May, all in-app banners focusing on privacy have been displayed in Gmail, Photos, and Drive.

If users disagree and select “Cancel” instead of being allowed to contribute their data, they will not receive live turn-by-turn navigation with voice feedback, but only a step-by-step guide as a static list. The “Learn more” link will take the user to a support document.

Overall, this is a straightforward requirement for using a free, modern mapping application. Google stresses that the map navigation data is not “associated with your Google Account or device.”

For more information, you may view the original story from 9to5Google.