Why Google is erasing location data as US abortion ban expands| 5 factors | World News

Days after the US Supreme Court docket struck down the historic Roe v Wade judgment that had institutionalized abortion-related protections within the nation, Google introduced that it will delete all customers' location historical past once they go to abortion clinics, home violence shelters, and different locations the place privateness is sought. The corporate outlined the brand new privateness protections in a weblog put up on Friday.

Listed below are 5 issues about Google's transfer:

1. Google will robotically purge details about customers who go to abortion clinics or different locations that might set off authorized issues because the US supreme courtroom has opened the door for the states to ban abortions.

2. Google's transfer comes as stress begins increase on massive tech corporations to protect delicate private details about folks visiting clinics for abortions. Because the reversal of the Roe v. Wade ruling makes abortion unlawful in a few dozen US states, folks's location, texts, searches, and emails may very well be utilized in prosecutions in opposition to abortion procedures and even for medical care sought in a miscarriage.

Additionally learn: Texas clinics halt abortions after state excessive courtroom ruling

3. Every year, Google receives hundreds of calls for from the federal government for customers' digital information as a part of misconduct investigations, reported information company AP.

4. Other than deleting visits to abortion clinics, Google additionally cited different facilities. “A number of the locations folks go to — together with medical amenities like counseling facilities, home violence shelters, abortion clinics, fertility facilities, dependancy therapy amenities, weight reduction clinics, beauty surgical procedure clinics, and others — could be notably private. At this time, we’re saying that if our programs establish that somebody has visited one in every of these locations, we are going to delete these entries from Location Historical past quickly after they go to,” the corporate wrote in a weblog put up.

Additionally learn: Biden seeks to spice up abortion affected person privateness after Roe tossed

5. “We’re dedicated to delivering strong privateness protections for individuals who use our merchandise, and we are going to proceed to search for new methods to strengthen and enhance these protections," Jen Fitzpatrick, a Google senior vp, wrote within the weblog put up.