Google admitted that it lost some customer data, possibly forever.
The data was stored in Google Maps' timeline feature, which, for those of you who let Google track you around the world, keeps a record of the places you visit.
In this way, Google makes it possible to display photos on the timeline, so that users can have a visual record of their travels.
So over the weekend, many users noticed that their timelines were gone.
Google noticed this too, and sent an email to timeline users admitting that “We had a technical issue that caused timeline data to be deleted for some people.”
The message then explains that most users who use the feature that allows encrypted backups will be able to restore data to their Google Maps timelines.
Users who didn't have backups enabled can't restore their data. Those who did create backups must manually restore their information using a process Google outlined in its email.
This isn't the first time Google has upset its customers with their data: In 2023 the company reduced the default data retention time for location information from 18 to three months, but some users didn't see the announcement and then complained as their data disappeared.
George is still wondering what he is doing here….
