Google Acknowledges User Data Deletion Snafu - Identifying Affected Users, Action Steps
Revised Article:
Quick off the heels of admitting a massive fraud involving more than 10,000 phony listings and hacked accounts messing with Google Maps users, Google has offered a nonchalant response to irate users after their precious data got nuked, potentially forever.
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Bye-Bye Timeline Data?
Back in mid-March, some Google Maps enthusiasts took to the forums in a rage, complaining that their timeline data had mysteriously disappeared, leaving nothing behind. One user lamented, "Every single day for the past 3+ years just vanished... and I can't load my local backup, only the option to delete it." This seemed unrelated to the spate of warning emails users were receiving about planned changes to the Google Maps timeline feature. Poor communication from Google left users in the dark about the fate of their data until now.
A Slight Apology, Sort of...
Some affected Google Maps users received a March 21st email from Google, that, while not a formal apology, offered some insight into what was happening and how to potentially restore the precious lost timelines. Yet the grand total of apology in this email could be summed up as: "We understand this can be frustrating if you rely on Timeline and we're trying to make things better."
The email went on to explain that Google had "experienced a technical issue which deleted Timeline data for some users." Those Intrepid users with encrypted backups may find a way to salvage their data. The rest of us, well...not so much. Google suggested that users update their Google Maps app, go to their Timeline, and tap the cloud icon before selecting the option to import a backup of data. Unfortunately, if you hadn't bothered setting up a backup, well...you've lost your data forever.
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A Single Sigh, or a Sympathy Shrug?
Google, you're killing us here. Losing years of curated Google Maps timeline data forever? A bummer, to say the least. It's a stark reminder to always, always keep regular backups of your data, just to be safe. After all, you never know when disaster might strike, either from a tech glitch or a cyber threat like ransomware.
One Forbes reader contacted me, utterly devastated to learn his Timeline data of over a decade is gone. He was a staunch defender of the feature, imagining a nostalgic future where he could revisit memories thanks to this precious feature. Disappointment and anger towards Google were palpable, yet he rightly wondered, "what next, oops, all your emails are gone?"
I reached out to Google for a statement, and a spokesperson responded, "We experienced a technical issue causing the deletion of Timeline data for some users. Most users with encrypted Timeline backups should be able to restore their data; unfortunately, those who did not have backups enabled cannot recover their lost data."
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Changes Ahead, Act Now!
This might be the perfect moment for Google Maps users who thrive on the Timeline feature to remember about an upcoming shift that could result in losing more of your precious data if you don't act by May 18th. Get ready for more changes to Timeline and secure those settings before it's too late!
Soon after the article was first published, another email from Google landed in my inbox, giving me a deadline of May 18th to make critical changes or risk losing my Timeline data forever. No technical error this time, just planned changes that demand decisive action from users.
Google has advised that you should ensure your Google Maps app is up-to-date on your smartphone, then visit the Timeline settings to tweak your privacy preferences. Make your move, folks!
- Despite the massive issue involving over 10,000 fake listings and hacked accounts on Google Maps, users were left perplexed when their timeline data vanished, which seems unrelated to the planned changes.
- Some users, whose timeline data mysteriously disappeared, found that Google's email response, while not a formal apology, offered advice on how to potentially restore the lost data, but only for those with encrypted backups.
- Google's lackluster response to the loss of timeline data serves as a stark reminder to always keep regular backups of important data, especially when facing potential threats from tech glitches, cyber threats like ransomware, or planned changes that might delete your data.
