Google accidentally deleted users' data, but there's no apology in sight
Google Maps users started complaining a couple of days ago that their Timeline data had disappeared — and last night, a Google spokesperson confirmed it had been deleted.
Speaking to The Verge, the spokesperson said it was a technical issue that caused the accidental deletion, but anyone who didn't have backups turned on won't be able to get their data back. This sucks for affected users since the Timeline feature is all about keeping track of where you've been over long periods of time.
Walkers and hikers use it to find new routes to try out, while others use it to pinpoint unexplored areas of their cities. If you've ever played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it's kind of like a real-life version of the Hero's Path — a feature that shows you everywhere you've visited in Hyrule.
Needless to say, for people who like to travel and take advantage of Google Maps to find cool spots, losing years of Timeline data could be quite a blow. You might assume it would even be worth an apology, but judging by the spokesperson's comment, Google doesn't agree. The full published version simply reads:
We briefly experienced a technical issue that caused the deletion of Timeline data for some people. Nearly everyone with encrypted Timeline backups will be able to restore their data; unfortunately those who did not have backups enabled will not be able to recover lost data.
The lack of a 'We apologize for any inconvenience caused.' comment is quite shocking to me. You can't just delete users' data and not apologize for the mistake.
If your Timeline data has disappeared and you do have backups turned on, you can get them back by clicking the cloud icon in the Your Timeline menu.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
You.com seeking $1.4bn valuation in new funding round
AI startup is in discussions to secure new funding at a valuation of $1.4bn, The Information reported. The Palo Alto-based startup, which focuses on AI search for business, plans to use the funds to bolster its AI assistant offerings. This development follows its shift from general-purpose AI search to work-related task assistance. The talks come after $50m Series B round in 2024, which included investments from Day One Ventures, DuckDuckGo, Gen Digital, Georgian, NVIDIA, Salesforce Ventures and SBVA. This round increased its total funding to $99m, elevating its valuation to between $700m and $900m. gained attention with the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, capitalising on the interest in AI-powered search. However, interest waned as competitors such as Microsoft's AI-infused Bing and Google's advanced search responses gained traction. In response, repositioned itself as an AI assistant to enhance productivity while maintaining internet search capabilities. Founded in 2020 by former Salesforce AI leads Richard Socher and Bryan McCann, now highlights its ability to summarise information, answer questions, and support daily workflows. Richard Socher, CEO and chief scientist, said that the platform can generate text, write code, and interact with various tools for precise results, though he did not comment on the current fundraising plans. offers a premium plan at $15 per month (billed annually), providing access to AI models and productivity features, slightly undercutting competitors like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, which charge $20 monthly. In addition to its consumer-facing AI assistant, is expanding into the enterprise market. The company provides a suite of AI tools, including agents and APIs, to help organisations enhance employee productivity and explore new revenue opportunities. " seeking $1.4bn valuation in new funding round" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Android Authority
an hour ago
- Android Authority
Wear OS 6 could finally add a Water Lock mode on the Pixel Watch
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google appears to be developing a 'Water Lock' shortcut for Wear OS, and it could arrive on the Pixel Watch with the upcoming Wear OS 6 update. This feature would likely disable the watch's touchscreen to prevent erratic behavior and false touches when the device gets wet. However, evidence of an accompanying water ejection sound is missing, and there's no guarantee the feature will be in the final release. The best smartwatches are typically highly water-resistant, so you can take them into the swimming pool or shower without worry. However, while getting them wet won't cause damage, it can make them act up. That's because most smartwatches use capacitive touchscreens, which often behave erratically when water lands on them, leading to annoying false touches and a loss of sensitivity. You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. To prevent these issues, many smartwatches feature a dedicated 'Water Lock' mode that disables the touchscreen. This mode is often paired with a water ejection feature that plays a specific tone to clear water from the speaker port. On most devices, like those from Samsung and Apple, this water ejection is triggered automatically when you turn off Water Lock, but it can also be activated manually. Water Lock shortcut on the Galaxy Watch Water Lock setting on the Galaxy Watch Water ejection feature on the Galaxy Watch In contrast, Google's Pixel Watch doesn't offer a dedicated Water Lock mode or a water ejection feature. While it automatically disables touch input when you start a swim workout, it won't do so if you're just wearing it in the rain or shower. However, Google may finally add a dedicated Water Lock shortcut with the upcoming Wear OS 6 update. While digging through the Wear OS 6 Developer Preview, I spotted new text strings suggesting a Quick Settings tile called 'Water Lock' is being added. Although the strings don't detail what this mode does, it will likely work as you'd expect: disabling the watch's touchscreen to prevent accidental inputs from water. Code Copy Text Water lock Water Lock Water lock on Turn on Water lock? Notably, the code strings also lack any mention of a water ejection feature. Without one, the new 'Water Lock' mode would be functionally identical to the Pixel Watch's existing 'Touch Lock' feature. If that's the case, its only real benefit would be to give users a more clearly named option to enable before getting their watch wet. Finally, even though these 'Water Lock' strings appeared in the Wear OS 6 Developer Preview, there's no guarantee the feature will show up in the stable update. All we know for sure is that Google is developing this for the Wear OS platform; whether the company enables it on its own watches is something we'll have to wait and see. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
You.com seeking $1.4bn valuation in new funding round
AI startup is in discussions to secure new funding at a valuation of $1.4bn, The Information reported. The Palo Alto-based startup, which focuses on AI search for business, plans to use the funds to bolster its AI assistant offerings. This development follows its shift from general-purpose AI search to work-related task assistance. The talks come after $50m Series B round in 2024, which included investments from Day One Ventures, DuckDuckGo, Gen Digital, Georgian, NVIDIA, Salesforce Ventures and SBVA. This round increased its total funding to $99m, elevating its valuation to between $700m and $900m. gained attention with the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, capitalising on the interest in AI-powered search. However, interest waned as competitors such as Microsoft's AI-infused Bing and Google's advanced search responses gained traction. In response, repositioned itself as an AI assistant to enhance productivity while maintaining internet search capabilities. Founded in 2020 by former Salesforce AI leads Richard Socher and Bryan McCann, now highlights its ability to summarise information, answer questions, and support daily workflows. Richard Socher, CEO and chief scientist, said that the platform can generate text, write code, and interact with various tools for precise results, though he did not comment on the current fundraising plans. offers a premium plan at $15 per month (billed annually), providing access to AI models and productivity features, slightly undercutting competitors like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, which charge $20 monthly. In addition to its consumer-facing AI assistant, is expanding into the enterprise market. The company provides a suite of AI tools, including agents and APIs, to help organisations enhance employee productivity and explore new revenue opportunities. " seeking $1.4bn valuation in new funding round" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
