Google announced on Friday that it would delete users’ location history when they visit abortion clinics, domestic violence shelters and other places where privacy is sought.
“If our systems determine that someone has visited one of these locations, we will delete those entries from location history shortly after the visit,” wrote Jen Fitzpatrick, Google’s senior vice president, in a blog post. “This change will go into effect in the coming weeks.”
Other places where Google doesn’t store location data are fertility centers, addiction treatment facilities, and weight loss clinics.
The announcement comes a week after the US Supreme Court made a tectonic decision stripping American women of their constitutional right to an abortion, prompting a dozen states to ban or severely restrict the procedure and sparking mass protests across the country.
Activists and politicians have urged Google and other tech giants to limit the amount of information they collect to prevent it from being used by law enforcement for abortion investigations and law enforcement.
Fitzpatrick also wanted to reassure users that the company takes privacy seriously.
“Google has a long track record of pushing back overbroad law enforcement claims, including fully objecting to some claims,” she wrote.
“We consider the privacy and security expectations of people who use our products, and we notify people when we comply with regulatory requirements.”
Concerns over smartphone data and reproductive rights predate the Supreme Court ruling, when several conservative US states passed legislation in recent months giving the public the right to sue doctors who perform abortions — or anyone who does helps to ease them.
That prompted a group of top Democratic lawmakers in May to send a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, urging him to stop collecting smartphone location data lest it “become a tool for right-wing extremists who crack down on people.” want to proceed who seek reproductive health care .”
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