Google will delete location data showing when users visit an abortion clinic, the online search giant said on Friday, subsequent concern that a digital trail could inform law enforcement if an individual terminates a pregnancy illegally.
As state laws limiting abortions set in later the U.S. Supreme Court decided last month that they no longer guaranteed the constitution, the technology industry fretted police could get warrants for customers’ search history, geolocation and other information revealing pregnancy plans.
Google on Friday said it will remain to push back in contradiction of improper or overly broad demands for data by the government, without reference to abortion.
The company said the location history of a Google account is off by default.
Effective in the coming weeks, for those who use location history, entries showing sensitive places containing fertility centers, abortion clinics and addiction treatment facilities deleted soon after a visit.
A Google spokesperson not immediately answer how the company would identify such visits or whether all related data wiped from its servers.
Separately, the company on Friday updated its policy to designate U.S. advertisers as providing abortions even if they dispense pills by mail after a virtual consultation, but lack their own facilities.