Google Pledges to Delete Location Data Tracking User Visits to Abortion Clinics
- July 08, 2022
In a July 1 blog post, Google said it will delete entries tracking user visits to abortion clinics, fertility centers, and other sensitive locations “soon after they visit.”
The move comes a week after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, triggering growing unease about the potential for law enforcement to engage in digital surveillance of patients.
Location history is turned off by default, and easy to delete for those who have it turned on, the post notes. But in the “coming weeks,” Google systems will identify and delete any entries that track user visits for reproductive care, as well as to other locations including domestic violence shelters, addiction treatment facilities, weight loss clinics, and cosmetic surgery clinics.
Google also said it plans to roll out updates for Fitbit users allowing them to delete multiple menstruation logs at once, rather than one at a time as is currently the case.
“We remain committed to protecting our users against improper government demands for data, and we will continue to oppose demands that are overly broad or otherwise legally objectionable,” the post says.