Google warns users about changes to Google Photos location data

Google is warning Android and iOS users about a feature that affects the location of images in Google Photos. Apparently, the search giant makes a point of highlighting a specific function that is capable of detecting data about the position of a photo, if it is not present. The feature we are talking about, which is used with photos stored in the Google Photos application, uses the background of images and videos captured with the smartphone camera to identify reference points and thus try to understand where the content is being held .

While Google has moved away from using Location History to understand where a photo was taken, or a video was recorded, it gets around this issue by leveraging other methods.

With the new notice, the Google team informs users that “photo locations come from multiple sources, including locations estimated by Google Photos. We are no longer using Location History to estimate photo locations, but will continue to estimate using other sources when “Estimate Missing Locations” is enabled.”

Google reminds users that selecting “Keep” will allow them to use Google Photos’ estimated locations to organize and find their images, adding that at any time they can change their mind and remove this permission (losing location data , but not the content).
Google Photos with changes in location data

Users can manually check if this option is active by accessing the Google Photos Settings menu and entering the Location section, as well as managing for a single image or video by opening the content and selecting the three-dot menu. Users will have the option to keep, or remove, estimated locations until May 1st, after which date Google will automatically remove existing estimated locations if no action is taken.

Google warns users about changes to Google Photos location data

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