Google Maps has returned to Apple's iOS devices and it might have caused trouble across European.
First, did you know you can use voice assistant Siri to help you on Google Maps?
The latest update of Google Maps for iOS 6, although it is accessible to iOS 5.1 or later as well, allows Siri to give you directions under Google Maps instead of Apple.
Courtesy of JailBreakNation, the Siri voice command automatically transfers the user to Apple Maps, however, when voicing a command directions, add the phrase "via transit" at the end. Without saying "via transit" the map directions will appear on the default Apple Maps.
After stating "via transit," Siri will transition to a list of other map apps you have installed under the file "Transport Apps," including Google Maps.
The nice tip for Apple fans might come at the expense of Google and the European Union.
"When users install Google Maps on their iPhone, the option to share location data with Google is switched on by default. By doing this, Google violates European data protection law, according to a German data protection watchdog," reported IDG News Service.
The Independent Centre for Privacy Protection Schleswig-Holstein's Deputy Privacy and Information Commissioner Marit Hansen stated in an email that Google provides users to anonymously contact Google on improving features, traffic, and other services, however, complete anonymity isn't guaranteed.
"All available information points to having linkable identifiers per user," which would allow Google to track several location entries, she said, according to IDG News. "This is clearly not anonymous."
Hansen added that she assumes Google's "anonymous location data" is still "personal data" under European data protection law.
Google has not directly commented on the matter but under their "Anonymity of date" site, Google states, "Google does not know who you are when you use the My Location (beta) feature in Google Maps for mobile. All handsets are anonymous. When you use our product, we do not collect personal information such as your username or phone number, so we do not know who owns or who is using the handset."
To download the app, click here.
For early reviews on the Google Maps on iOS 6, click here.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
