But you made it sound like this was only applicable to Android. Wouldn't it work exactly the same way if OP set up a gmail account on an Apple phone? Doesn't "the other 95% of the population" have their location services turned on on their Apple phones as well?
Just asking. I don't know a whole lot about Apple/iOS.
You can not have an Android phone without setting up a gmail account, at that time google starts automatically storing and mapping every single place the phone goes by time, date and year unless you know enough to go into the settings and turn it off.
Good question on the Apple iPhone. I bought a Mac mini in Sept of 2019 andI started using as iPhone in Dec 2019 for the whole privacy thing and got completely off googles system and done with Android for good.
Im trying to remember well enough to answer your question honestly and not sure if I can unless I look further into it. Like you I am aware of the privacy settings for both formats and grabbing at straws to remember back when I started up my iPhone for the first time.
With that said I am almost certain that every step of the way Apple asks you if you want too allow access ect ect ... and its amazingly simple (for those who care too) go into my privacy settings and select allowing access to location on any application. Apple gives you 3 choices, NEVER, ALWAYS and ONLY WHEN USING THE APP. Which also impressed me.
Either way you are not forced to sign up with a Apple email (iCloud) address but yes you do set up an account with any email that you want which is super nice as my phone and my apple desktop are sync'd in the cloud, as well as backed up should anything happen to them. One other feature I LOVE is as soon as I take photos with my phone they are sync'd to my desktop Mac mini within a few minutes.
Of course if you elect gmail on your iPhone I would assume gmail will store everyplace you go, I cant answer for that because I would never have a gmail account on an iPhone.
*L* Tried to answer this as honestly as possible and from memory when I first set up my iPhone, I do remember mentioning and showing my wife how impressed I was with the questions regarding my privacy coming from the device, will even warn you if an app is using your location.
Background = been using cell phones since 2001 (or sooner) as years moved on as much as 5 phones on my plan as more years moved on always Android family, then I started understanding this whole google corporation, using our data to sell us products, other apps selling my privacy, ect. I moved onto Apple world. My wife, kids still on Android and Windows but in time, that will be changed for my wife, kids are now out in the world, no longer living at home.
Here is another honest statement. I am sooooo impressed (keeping in mind Apple is a corporation) with Apples philosophy on privacy. It really is their company culture. No one can deny that (even though I am sure this post will generate a bunch of nasty responses)
Apple is always in the news over privacy and what they do, the latest is they created a major headache for apps that generate add revenue, Facebook to take a big hit because Apple will end the ability for them and everyone else to use your data for ads. Apple has delayed this implementation until next year to give companies time to adjust, but either way, the company culture is privacy and with Android, its the Wild West. Though, google feeling the pressure and is starting to make some things easier, we all know the population in general does nothing.
Also anything personal such as facial recognition ect on your iPhone is encrypted on your phone and apple has no access to it.
Ive posted this link many times, I dont know if you saw it. Others again, will deny, trash, argue against Apple but, think you can agree, that is why 95 percent of the population gives away their data and why the top 5% do not... Fantastic speech to watch and people will discount it, but I ignore them as this company is one of the most successful in the history of mankind and here their CEO is WARNING people but it falls on deaf ears for 95% .. until one day ... then, you know, they will blame someone...like a politician. *L*(
https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/24/18017842/tim-cook-data-privacy-laws-us-speech-brussels
Wow, long post, and lets face it, all companies in business to make money, just feel as a people to many of us, like 95% could care less about our privacy, blows my mind. But what bothers me the most, is the same people trash the 100's of billions these companies make. But they are making this money by using your data for free. Maybe better said, you give them permission to use your data and they give you free operating systems and free apps.
I rather pay as they benefit far more then the app is worth.