Congress Asks Google 10 Questions On Its Location Tracking Database

Last week, we reported a story based
upon NY Times findings that revealed how using a “geofence”
warrant, authorities obtain location history of all devices from
Google’s Sensorvault database that pass through a crime scene over
a certain time period.
^[2]

For those unaware, Google maintains Sensorvault database over
nearly the past decade which contains precise location information
from hundreds of millions of smartphones around the world and
shares it with authorities to help in criminal cases.

However, Google does not share identifiable information on all
devices after receiving a warrant. Instead, authorities have to
first narrow down their list of suspects using the location history
data, only after which Google shares further information about a
few selected users (suspects or witnesses).

Now top U.S. lawmakers from the U.S. House Energy and Commerce
Committee on Tuesday wrote an open
letter^[3] to Google raising
concerns about the database and seeks a briefing on how it is used
and shared by the company.

• What information Google stores in the Sensorvault database, why
  and how does Google use it?
• Which affiliate and subsidiaries of Alphabet company have
  access to this database?
• Does Google maintain any other database on users’ location
  information, and if yes, how it is different from Sensorvault?
• Who within Google can access the Sensorvault database and what
  are their job roles?
• What are the sources from which Google collects information
  contained in Sensorvault database?
• Can users opt-in or opt-out to allow or prevent Google from
  collecting information stored in the Sensorvault database?
• What’s Google’s retention policy with respect to the
  information the company collects on its customers?
• Does Google share, sell or disclose customers location
  information with any third-party other than law enforcement?

Besides this, the members of Congress—including Committee Chairman
Frank Pallone, a Democrat from New Jersey, and ranking Republican
Greg Walden—have also requested Sundar Pichai to issue a briefing
on these topics by May 10.