Location Tracking and Privacy Short Paper

    I use a Google Pixel 6 smartphone, which runs on the Android operating system. Android determines location using a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi networks, cell towers, and Bluetooth signals. These technologies allow apps to access my location in real time, often without my direct input. Fortunately, Android gives users the control over location permissions, allowing me to manage which apps can access my location and when – whether only while the app is in use or even in the background. This paper explores how location services operate on my devices and investigates how three commonly used apps – Facebook, Transit, and Google Maps – collect and use location data. By reviewing their privacy policies and adjusting settings, I aim to better understand the balance between convenience and personal privacy.

1. Facebook: collects location data to personalize content, target ads, and suggest nearby events or friends. I can manage location settings and disable location history by going into my settings. Facebook tracks my location even when the app is not open if the background permissions are granted. According to SocialAppsHQ (n.d.), Their policy emphasized that location data is used for ad targeting, and users can opt out of some tracking features.

2. Transit: according to the Transit App (n.d.), tracks your real-time location, including latitude, longitude, speed, and time, to provide accurate transit data. Location tracking only occurs when the app is in the foreground, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Transit collects usage data, such as routes you interact with and device type. You can opt out by revoking location permissions in your phone settings.

3. Google Maps: uses your location for navigation, place recommendations, and location history. As of 2025, Google is shifting to store Timeline data on your device, rather than in the cloud. (Doffman, 2025) You can manage or delete your location history in your timeline, and your data is also used for ads and search personalization. (Google, 2025)

    To enhance privacy, I manually adjusted the settings for Facebook, Transit, and Google Maps on my Pixel 6 by disabling location access entirely through the app permissions menu. I also reviewed each app’s internal privacy settings to turn off location history, background tracking, and personalized features that rely on location data.

 

1. Facebook: I found instructions on iMyPass (n.d.) and CyberProtection (n.d.) to make my Facebook app more secure and prevent it from tracking my location, I can adjust several settings directly on my phone and within the app. On my Google Pixel 6 I went into the Settings > Apps > Facebook > Permissions > Location and selected “Don’t allow” to completely block Facebook from accessing my location. I then opened the Facebook app, tapped the menu (=) Settings & Privacy > Settings scrolled to Location and tapped Location History. I toggled Location History to Off. In the same location, settings menu, I looked for “Allow Location Access” and choose “Never” to prevent background tracking. I then went to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Activity Log. I tapped Filters > Categories > Logged Actions and Other Activity > Location History and deleted any stored location data.

2. Transit: According to the Transit App (n.d.), I can change privacy settings on my Google Pixel 6 by going to Settings > Apps > Transit > Permissions > Location and select “Don’t Allow” to block the app from accessing my location entirely. The App itself does not offer granular location privacy controls, but I can tap the gear icon at the top left on the main screen, scroll to “Getting around” > “Public transit” and disable transportation options I don’t use by unchecking them. I can also toggle off Transit map layers to reduce data visibility. I can change location access to “Ask every time” in Android settings, this way Transit only gets my location when I explicitly allow it.

3. Google Maps: to turn off location access for Google Maps I go to Settings > Apps > Google Maps > Permissions > Location and select “Don’t Allow” to block all location access. Open the Google Maps app, tap your profile icon > Your Timeline, tap the three-dot menu > Settings and privacy and under Location settings, turn off Location History. You can also delete past data by selecting “Delete all Location History.” If you don’t want location-based ads anymore, go to Google Account > Data & privacy > Ad settings and turn off Personalized ads. (Doffman, 2025) I noticed that once I had turned off all permissions, I can no longer receive turn-by-turn navigation to places or estimated travel times. I can still type in address or places and view maps and routes but without live tracking.

Based on the analysis, the following best practices are recommended:

1. Facebook: With all permissions turned off I can still view and post to Facebook and use the Messenger app. I won’t receive friend suggestions, receive local event recommendations, receive ads tailored to my location, and will not be able to tag a location. I don’t really use Facebook a lot and changing these settings won’t affect my use of the app. I think I will leave these settings in place for the time being.

2. Transit: I really cannot use this app with the changes I made, and I will need to change all the settings back. I use the bus daily to commute to work, the grocery store and everywhere else. When I changed all the settings, I am no longer able to use the “Go” feature which helps me navigate a route in real time. It stopped showing me which routes I can take, and I am no longer able to see which stops or routes are close to me. I lose all functions of the app if it cannot track my location in real time.

3. Google Maps: Instead of turning the setting to “Don’t Allow” I can have it set to “Ask every time” so I can choose when I want it to track me and I will still receive accurate directions, ETA estimates and navigations as long as I grant location access when prompted. I will avoid background tracking when the app is not in use, and I will still be able to use the app when needed.

    Based on my research, the best practices for maintaining privacy and security on a smartphone include regularly reviewing app permissions to understand what data each app can access and revoking any that are unnecessary. For location settings, it’s wise to choose “While using the app” or “Ask every time,” especially for apps that don’t require constant tracking. Disabling features like Location History and Precise Location further limits background data collection. Choosing apps that are transparent about their data practices and avoiding those with accessing or unclear permission helps reduce risk. Turning off ad personalization also minimizes tracking across platforms. Keeping your software up to date and using a strong screen lock are essential steps to protect your device from unauthorized access. (Consumer Reports, 2023).

    In an increasingly connected world, tracking has become a powerful tool embedded in everyday mobile experiences. Through this investigation of my Google Pixel 6 and the apps Facebook, Transit, and Google Maps, location services offer both convenience and complexity. While these apps rely on location data to provide personalized content, real-time transit updates, and accurate navigation, they also raise significant privacy concerns. By reviewing their privacy policies and adjusting permission, users can take meaningful steps to protect their personal data. Ultimately, maintaining privacy on a smartphone requires ongoing awareness, thoughtful permission management, and a willingness to prioritize security over convenience. As technology continues to evolve, so too must our understanding of how to safeguard our digital footprints.


References:

Consumer Reports. (2023, October 12). How to protect your privacy on your smartphone. Consumer Reports. Retrieved August 3, 2025, from https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/privacy/how-to-protect-your-privacy-on-your-smartphone-a1047623171/

CyberProtection. (n.d.). Stop Meta from tracking your information on iOS and Android. CyberProtection. Retrieved August 3, 2025, from https://www.cyberprotection.com/post/stop-meta-from-tracking-information-on-ios-android

Doffman, Z. (2025, May 17). Google is deleting all your location data—Do not miss deadline. Forbes. Retrieved August 3, 2025, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/05/17/google-is-deleting-all-your-location-data-do-not-miss-deadline/

Doffman, Z. (2025, May 17). Google is tracking your every move—Here’s how to turn it off in 3 steps. Tom’s Guide. Retrieved August 3, 2025, from https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/mobile-apps/google-is-tracking-your-every-move-heres-how-to-turn-it-off-in-3-steps

Google LLC. (2025, July 1). Privacy policy. Google. Retrieved August 3, 2025, from https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en-US

iMyPass. (n.d.). How to stop Facebook from tracking your location. iMyPass. Retrieved August 3, 2025, from https://www.imypass.com/gps-location/stop-facebook-tracking/

SocialAppsHQ. (n.d.). Guide to Facebook privacy. SocialAppsHQ. Retrieved August 3, 2025, from https://www.socialappshq.com/facebook/guide-to-fb-privacy/

Transit App. (n.d.). Manage your public transit options. Transit. Retrieved August 3, 2025, from https://help.transitapp.com/article/107-manage-your-public-transit-options

Transit App. (n.d.). Privacy policy. Transit. Retrieved August 3, 2025, from https://transitapp.com/privacy

[Written for TECH 1010 class UVU Summer 2025]
aB . All Rights Reserved . 2025

Facebook

  

 “In little more than a decade, a formless entity called the internet, whose organization and governance remain a mystery to most of its users, became a player in countless contemporary social transactions. In exploring its possibilities, millions of people began to alter not only the architecture of the internet but also, in diverse ways, their own preconceptions of what it means to belong to social units such as the family, community, workplace, firm or nation.” Pg 16 - Sheila Jasanoff - States of knowledge (week 3 reading) 

    Facebook is a social networking site created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and 4 other individuals while they were students at Harvard University. Facebook was initially invented as a “whose hotter” website and thus was quickly shut down by Harvard University while Mark Zuckerberg faced possible suspension. He changed his thinking and decided instead to create a place where Harvard students could interact with each other online. Facebook soon expanded to other universities such as Yale, Columbia, and Stanford. In 2006, the Facebook creators decided to allow anyone to be part of this new social media site over the age of 13. Mark Zuckerberg expanded his company over the years by adding Instagram, Threads, and Whatsapp to his ever growing social media empire. Facebook was not the first social media platform as Six Degrees was created in 1997 and Myspace in 2003, it is however the most popular one that is still around today and boasts having more than 3 billion active users each month. 

    I grew up in Europe and a lot of my family still lives there. I also have all of my mothers side of the family that live in Australia. Travel to Europe and Australia is expensive and so I do not see my family and friends often. I remember getting birthday cards from my grandparents in Australia and letters from my parents when I lived in Finland and they were in America. The mail would take about 2 weeks to reach me and then I was able to send something back and even include a picture or two if I wanted to after I had printed them out. When Email became more popular I got my very first email address in 1998. I was able to now send letters a lot faster and did not need to wait weeks to hear back. I had to know my family and friends email addresses and could only communicate with them if they had signed up for email as well. I remember setting up a Myspace account when that became available and soon I found a few friends that I had lost contact with over the years. When Facebook became popular I already had 2 kids and they were 6 and 4 years old. I was now able to share news about my little family in America with my friends and family far away. They were able to see updates and pictures all over the world no matter where they were. 

    Over the years I have found friends I lost contact with and have been able to connect with family that lives far away and even some that I have never met. My kids, now 23 and 21, each have all the social media apps and use them daily. They have Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Reddit, Twitter (now X), Pinterest, LinkedIn, You tube, Twitch, and much more. I can see how their lives revolve around the use of social media to stay up to date with the latest trends/fads and to make sure everyone knows about their lives as well. Countless hours are spent online now instead of outside or communicating with real living breathing individuals. In today's society kids are given smartphones with access to social media before they are even old enough to sign up for the sites themselves. They are learning about the world's expectations of them from celebrities and influencers instead of their parents, siblings, family members, or teachers at school. As I have gotten older I have enjoyed keeping in contact with my friends and family far away but have found it less necessary to post everything that happens in my life. I log on to my Facebook account seldomly and only to see if anything new has happened to those that I don’t see on a regular basis. (Except during this class as I now log in multiple times a week to look at my community) Last July I deleted my other social media accounts that I signed up for a long time ago and only kept Facebook as it lets me keep in touch with my family and friends in Europe and Australia. At first I missed the constant knowledge of knowing what my friends and kids were up to, but over time I realized that I could actually talk to them instead of looking at their social media pages. 

    I am glad that social media sites such as Facebook have a set of norms, values, and expectations that all users need to adhere to. Your posts can be removed and you can be kicked off the platform if you do not adhere to these social standards. To be a part of many online groups you may need to acknowledge that you are willing to abide by the norms and values of that particular community to be a part of it. Just like with any other society there need to be expectations so that everyone knows what the “rules” are and that they can choose to follow them or look for a different community that caters a little better to them instead.

[Written for SOC 3690 class UVU Spring 2024]

aB . All Right Reserved . 2024