Google has confirmed a technical issue resulted in the deletion of Timeline data for some Google Maps users. This disruption, acknowledged by a Google spokesperson to The Verge, impacts users who did not have backups enabled. Unfortunately, for these users, the lost data is irrecoverable. The Timeline feature, designed to track location history over extended periods, is a valuable tool for many.
This loss is particularly impactful for those who utilize the feature to explore new hiking trails, discover hidden gems within their cities, or simply document their travels. The Timeline provides a comprehensive record of visited locations, akin to the “Hero’s Path” feature in the popular video game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but for real-world exploration. Losing years of meticulously tracked data is undoubtedly frustrating for avid travelers and explorers who rely on Google Maps.
The official statement from Google acknowledges the technical issue and the resulting data loss:
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.
Users who had enabled backups can restore their Timeline data by accessing the cloud icon within the Your Timeline menu.
For those affected by the data loss, the lack of an apology from Google in their official statement is noticeable. The incident highlights the importance of enabling data backups for critical features like the Google Maps Timeline.
