Location-based data

Location-based data is data about where a user or device is. Mobile devices can use GPS to work out their position and share it with apps. You can also share your location yourself by typing your postcode into a delivery app, giving an app permission to use it, or posting it on social media.

Real-time location data shows where you are at that moment. It can be used to track where a user is and share that information with others. This can be useful: a maps app can find a nearby pharmacy, a weather app can send a warning about heavy rain approaching your area, a travel app can send updates about delays on your route, and an event app can show what events are happening nearby. Organisations can use location data to send relevant information, adverts and local offers for nearby services and events, so the message is more useful to the person receiving it.

Location data can also support fraud protection. A payment system can compare where a card is being used with where the user's phone is. If the card is used in Edinburgh while the phone is in Cardiff, the mismatch may suggest the card has been used without permission.

There are risks too. Location data can reveal where you live, work or spend time, so you should think carefully before letting technology reveal your location. If a game asks for your location but does not need it to work, you can deny that permission in the app's settings, and you should switch off location sharing when it is not needed. Responsible use means using location data for a clear purpose and giving users control over whether their location is shared.