The apps on YOUR phone that keep track of your exact location, and how to protect yourself

When these companies refer to a precise location, they mean the specific point where you're standing right now. This data gets collected through various methods, including GPS, Bluetooth signals, and IP addresses.

What makes X stand out is its transparency about one particularly concerning practice. The platform openly acknowledges that it uses your precise location for tracking purposes. This means your movements can be monitored continuously.

So, what's happening with this data?

Your location data might be merged with information from other applications and websites you visit. It could even end up with data brokers who sell such information to other businesses.

More than half of the social media applications analysed gather precise location data for third-party advertising. This explains why you might see adverts from companies you've never engaged with directly.

You might think switching off location sharing in your settings would solve the problem. Unfortunately, that's not always enough.

Companies, including Meta, TikTok, and Pinterest, state in their privacy policies that they can still work out your approximate location even when you've disabled precise location sharing. Although they don't specify how this is achieved.

"Precise location data falls under the most sensitive user data category because it can be linked to highly personal behaviour and routines," warns Donatas Budvytis, Surfshark's Chief Technology Officer.

Your location history can also reveal deeply personal information. For example, regular overnight stays at an address indicate where you live. Daily journeys might expose your workplace, potentially revealing salary information. Visits to medical facilities, places of worship or political gatherings become part of your digital profile.

Several platforms collect location data for vague "Other purposes" without providing clear explanations. X, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and Pinterest all fall into this category, leaving users uncertain about how their coordinates might be used.

"If we are concerned about our privacy, we should keep an eye on which apps request access to precise location information," advises Mr. Budvytis. He recommends only granting precise location access when it's essential for an app's functionality.

You can take immediate steps to protect yourself. Disable GPS access for social media apps in your device settings, or limit it to "Only While Using the App".

To disable location sharing on iPhones, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app
• Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security
• Select Location Services
• You’ll see a list of apps — find the social media app (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, TikTok)
• Tap the app → choose one of the following:
  • Never → completely disables location access
  • Ask next time or when I share → The app will ask before using the location
  • While using the app, → app can only access the location when open

To disable location sharing on Android devices, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap Location.
• Go to App permissions or App location permissions.
• Find and select the social media app (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, TikTok).
• Choose one of the options:
  • Deny → completely blocks location access.
  • Allow only while using the app → limits access.
  • Ask every time → app must request location access each time.

Using a VPN provides additional protection by masking your IP address, preventing apps from determining your location through this method.

VPNs work by creating an encrypted tunnel for all of your online traffic. When you activate a VPN, any data transmitted between your device and the website or online service is routed via the provider's servers.

The encryption scrambles your data into an unreadable format, preventing third parties from monitoring your activity. It stops advertisers, broadband providers, and Governments from checking what you've been up to online.