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Google tracks smartphone locations despite settings options

Whether you signed up for it or not, Google could be tracking your smartphone constantly.

CBS News reported that an Associated Press investigation revealed the information Google could be keeping track of through a smartphone.

“I wouldn’t like that at all,” Jacksonville resident James Chochion said. “Track my location? That’s not good because anyone can find (any)one any time.”

Chochion said he felt his privacy was being invaded with this tracking system. Another Jacksonville resident, Tesha Gantt, said she was not aware of this feature until Action News Jax told her about it Monday.

“I didn’t know that, so I’ll look into that a little bit, do some research,” Gantt said.

TEC Work’s chief operating officer Dawn Wilson said Google has been tracking smartphone devices for years.

“Google will be able to tell where you go, how fast it will take based on traffic, to what routes you take on a daily basis,” Wilson said.

Each smartphone app, including Google, will ask permission to access the user’s location. Wilson said it is not uncommon that most of your apps will track the user’s location at the same time.

“It’s several companies that’s doing that,” Wilson said. “If you open your phone, I’m sure most people have several apps on their phone. If you’re looking at your phone and at a specific app, it usually has your location services enabled.” You can disable the services.

Another way to turn off an iPhone location is to open up the phone’s settings, and go to Privacy, location services. Select location services again to turn off the green icon.

But, Wilson said, through satellite systems and cellphone carriers, the only way to fully turn off a smartphone is to remove the SIM card from the device.

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