The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) announced on September 21, 2026, that it has fined Google €403 million following an investigation into the company’s historical processing of user location data. The fine, which addresses data handling practices between 2018 and 2020, highlights a long-standing tension between user privacy and the data collection required for personalized digital services.
The regulatory action arrives as Google has fundamentally altered how it manages location history, known as “Timeline.” Over the last two years, Google transitioned Timeline data from cloud-based storage to local, on-device storage. This architectural shift significantly changes how users interact with their own data and how they must go about disabling it.
The End of Desktop Timeline Access
One of the most immediate consequences of Google’s shift to on-device storage is the removal of the web-based Timeline interface. Previously, users could log into their Google account on a desktop browser to view, edit, or delete their movement history. Because the data is now stored locally on your specific smartphone rather than on Google’s servers, the web version of the Timeline is no longer functional.
If you attempt to access your Timeline via a computer in 2026, you will likely find the feature retired or empty. Managing your location history now requires direct access to the mobile device where the data is physically stored.
How to Turn Off Location History (Timeline)
To stop your device from recording your movements and to delete existing data, you must navigate the settings within the Google Maps app.
1. Open the Google Maps app on your Android or iOS device.
2. Tap your Profile Picture or initial in the top right corner.
3. Select Your Timeline.
4. Tap the More menu (three dots) in the top right corner and select Location and privacy settings.
5. Locate the “Location History is on” section and select it to toggle the setting to Off.
Users can also choose an “Auto-delete” option within these settings, which instructs Google to automatically wipe location data older than three, 18, or 36 months. Since the data is stored locally, Google also provides an option for encrypted backups. This allows users to move their history to a new phone when upgrading, ensuring the data remains inaccessible to Google while in transit.
The “Web & App Activity” Loophole
A common misconception is that disabling “Timeline” stops all Google location tracking. However, Google maintains a separate category called “Web & App Activity.” Even if your Timeline is off, Google may still log your location through other services, such as when you use Google Search for local weather or use the “Nearby” feature in various apps.
To ensure total location privacy, users should also address this second setting:
1. Go to your Google Account settings (myaccount.google.com).
2. Select Data & Privacy.
3. Under “History settings,” find Web & App Activity.
4. You can turn this off entirely or uncheck the sub-setting that includes “visual and audio information” and location data from various Google services.
While the €403 million fine focuses on practices from years ago, the current on-device model represents Google’s technical response to increasing privacy demands. By moving the data off its servers, the company has reduced its own access to your physical movements—but the responsibility for managing that data now rests more heavily on the user’s device settings.
