Google issues a mass email to Maps users, guiding how to effectively regain lost timeline data.
Google is under fire as users’ data gets deleted. And for some, this might be permanent. Recently, the tech giant issued an apology to its users.
Beginning March 11, some users angrily criticized Google as they voiced their displeasure – their Google Maps timeline data was unavailable. Several users couldn’t find Maps data between a single day and 3+ years, while many couldn’t load their backups.
The only warning – a chain of email notifications stating that updates are being made to the Google Maps timeline. But the concern was – Google’s silence. No actual update or news was forecasted regarding this from the powerhouses’ side.
The users remained in the dark.
However, after 10 days of pin-drop silence, Google emailed Google Maps users. It didn’t apologize or address the real reason behind the data’s disappearance.
So, what was the email about?
It outlined the process of regaining lost timeline data but only for specific users. The email, however, did include those who hadn’t backed up their data, but it was only a piece of bad news for them. Citing it as a technical issue, Google asserted, “If you have encrypted backups enabled, you may be able to restore your data.”
For users with the updated version, they were asked to click on the cloud image on the Maps platform and import a backup.
To avoid these glitches in the future, Google stated that they are already making improvements and ensuring users can nostalgically remember the places they had visited before.
While this may not seem like a big deal, the very function of the Maps platform was compromised. And after sending a bunch of emails, Google was silent for over 10 days. Now, the media is speculating – could it be a scam or a cyberattack?
While it might not be as significant, Google’s data being deleted without notice does raise several questions. This is especially true for user experiences and the promise of better service.
But now, users have become more aware and careful as they decide to take significant steps to safeguard their data and privacy.