App asking to keep location services "always on".

[rosiequeenofc]

Do I have to keep

location services to “always on?”

or just “when using the app” - having it “always on” is taking its toll on my battery life.

Moderator Edit: Clarified Subject.

[MBonGV]

Thank you- glad I did some digging around to affirm what I thought was behind this. 

[fourthirty]

In addition to the excellent privacy articles that @Walker_73  & @thenameless1  have shared, I stumbled across this one yesterday in the WSJ:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/iphone-update-reminds-usersagain-and-againof-being-tracked-11577799336

As highlighted in a separate thread (https://community.fitbit.com/t5/iOS-App/Location-services-on-iOS-devices/m-p/3964444), Apple iOS 13 is thankfully alerting users to applications which are tracking them "in the background" (when the application is closed).  I sincerely hope this raises public awareness to this serious privacy concern.  Fitbit (along with Google and Facebook) declined to comment in the article.

[SunsetRunner]

Since there are no real opt-out options on use of user data on any Google related products/services, I sadly had to end the use of my Charge 2 to help maintain my privacy. I do not use any Google (or Facebook) products except occasional YouTube videos due to their use of my data "to enhance the user experience". (I replaced with a Garmin Vivosport which is a good alternative for me with built in GPS and better HR tracking during intense HIIT sessions).

Now Google wants people to enter data to help track Covid-19! I dont think so...

[fourthirty]

@SunsetRunner  - Interestingly enough, Fitbit has been posting in their blog about how Fitbit user data is being used to monitor if people are sheltering in place during the pandemic, and even the impact to user's sleep patterns:

https://blog.fitbit.com/social-distancing-mobility/

https://blog.fitbit.com/covid-19-global-activity/

https://blog.fitbit.com/covid-19-sleep-patterns/

They state the analysis was based on user average step data, which I'm fine with (along as it was redacted).  However, one can easily see how this could be taken to the next level if Fitbit is allowed to gather user location "Always".

[Philip12345]

Hi @LizzyFitbit you say that "any feedback posted in the forums is always welcome as it helps us to improve our products, services and overall environment" and I found this thread because I too was surprised to find that I could only use my phone's GPS to track a ride if I had it set to "always on"

This is totally unacceptable.  I bought a product that worked for me, and the change means if I don't want Fitbit to track my location all the time (which I don't) but I wan't to use the features advertised when I purchased the product, I have to go out of my way to switch on/off the buried settings on my phone every time I exercise.  This is strong arming users into being constantly monitored when all they want is to track their exercise, not their entire lives.  So I bought a product, and the company has basically turned it into a surveillance device.

There is no reason this needs to be the case on IOS, and you've had plenty of complaints.  Is this going to be fixed?  I've had 5 Fitbits, but this is unacceptable.  I will absolutely move away from this product if this isn't addressed.  

Thank you for the help, I really hope this is fixed.

Phil

[Azurik777]

since the charge 4 has built in GPS, surely there is no need to leave location services on “always”, or even “when using”, right?

Moderator edit: format

[fourthirty]

Hi @Azurik777  - I am curious about that myself.  I've been debating upgrading my Charge 2 (which utilized connected GPS with my iPhone) to a Charge 4 (with built in GPS).

If you set your iPhone location services to "never" or "when using", and start a GPS based exercise (walk/hike/run/bike), do you receive a message directing you to set location to "Always"?

Hopefully not...

[fkm]

This is fascinating and it's great to get confirmation that Fitbit is effectively trying to force people to give up their location data 24/7 and not just during exercise. So basically I can't start any of the exercises on my device anymore without needing to accept setting my location data to Always On?

This is simply not acceptable and beyond intrusive for a company to force this on users. Even assuming this new strategy was prompted by the sale to Google, Google Maps etc doesn't even force uers to set location data set to Always.

Most in fact can get your location with enabling Bluetooth connectivity on iOS (eg apps that have no attached bluetooth device are still asking for permision to enable Bluetooth).

Sadly, this has been going on for months now and obviously Fitbit have no intent on fixing this "bug".

More people need to know about this.

I'd also be interested to know if Charge 4 can get around this issue.

[noirdesir]

---

@fkm wrote:

This is fascinating and it's great to get confirmation that Fitbit is effectively trying to force people to give up their location data 24/7 and not just during exercise. So basically I can't start any of the exercises on my device anymore without needing to accept setting my location data to Always On?

You still can use your Fitbit and the app without giving the app any location access. You just have to add the little 'unlock gesture' of tapping the 'No Thanks' button whenever you open the app (and thus dismissing the dialog box that asks you to enable location access). 

[noirdesir]

---

@Azurik777 wrote:

since the charge 4 has built in GPS, surely there is no need to leave location services on “always”, or even “when using”, right?

---

Probably, but with the Charge 4, the Fitbit app doesn't need access to location services on the phone, it gets your location directly from your fitness tracker. So, if your goal is to not give Fitbit your location, it's basically game over with the Charge 4.

And while the Charge 4 will certainly have an option to switch off GPS tracking for the purpose of extending battery life, it could easily sneak in a GPS location request every 30 minutes or so while still offering the longer battery life that switching off GPS provides. 

[noirdesir]

---

@fourthirty wrote:

Hi @Azurik777  - I am curious about that myself.  I've been debating upgrading my Charge 2 (which utilized connected GPS with my iPhone) to a Charge 4 (with built in GPS).

If you set your iPhone location services to "never" or "when using", and start a GPS based exercise (walk/hike/run/bike), do you receive a message directing you to set location to "Always"?

---

You get that message even if you don't start an exercise. I thought I could narrow it down to that it only happens when an 'exercise' is being recorded (whether started automatically or manually) but I have seen the message also while there was no exercise being active. 

What I have noticed is that:

(a) I very, very rarely get this message while at home (and I thought this could be linked to this message only popping up while the device detects 'active minutes', but then at least once I got this message without active minutes being tracked), and

(b) When I am really away from civilization (a few hundred meters away from any buildings), I don't get that message. The only explanation I have for this that it is somehow related to the phone or the device registering Bluetooth and/or WiFi signals. Smartphones do use WiFi signals (from WiFi hotspots they know the location of) to determine location, mostly probably to not needing to use the more battery-taxing GPS chip but also because this can be helpful in situations with no or weak GPS signal, eg, inside buildings. 

The second point might even be related to the first one, in that at home, I am logged into a well-known (to the phone) WiFi network. 

[RussK]

I considered dumping my family's Fitbit products when I realised the company has turned user-activated activity tracking into 24 by 7 geo-surveillance.

Fitbit's very poor response to individuals raising this issue is the decider for me.  We are now a Fitbit free family.  And it's  a shame, as we've been users and fans for a long time.

Good bye Fitbit

[adguy]

Agreed. It’s shameful Google never replied with an explanation, acknowledgement or apology...nothing. Certainly no fix. Google may find they bought the tail end of the Fitbit trend, then hastened its demise.

Sent from my iPhone

[Beachbum22]

The same thing happens with my Inspire-HR.  They lie.  They say I only need to choose allow location access when using.  It will not rack me during an exercise unless I choose track Always.

My iPhone keeps reminding me that it is sending tracking data to Fitbit if I forget to turn the tracking to Never.  There is NO REASON for my Fitbit to be sending tracking data to the internet.  It will track my exercise with wifi and cellular data turned off.  

They are selling our location data.  If they were not they would let it track us only when we are using the app, not ALL THE TIME.

[Dandinphx]

I have this same issue. It's August 11, 2020, a year later and Fitbit cannot make a simple programming change.  Allow while using means just that. I'm not sure why the Fitbit moderator answers these complains instead of sending them to programming with the request to make the change.

[John_himm]

1%? what's so scary?

[Elkinsecon]

So, why can't this work with location services set to "on when the Fitbit app is in use" like other apps? When I go out for my bike ride and set my Fitbit exercise mode to "bike" I also turn on the Fitbit app on my phone when prompted. This should be sufficient.

In theory, my FitBit is linked to Map My Ride on my phone -- they're linked on my iPhone; however, there is no evidence that any data is being exchanged between the apps. Having to have both my Fitbit app on, and Map My ride on, both with location services turned on, for the duration of my rides drains the battery too quickly.

And don't get me started on the paltry amount of distance and calories that the FitBit app gives me credit for on my bike rides as compared to the estimates provided by Map My Ride. Fitbit gives me more credit for mowing my lawn than for a 15 mile bike ride at peak cardio.

[MargaritaMarge]

Why is the onus to turn Location ON/OFF on the user?  Can't the device tell that I'm moving? Duh.

I don't need a map; what I want is distanced or steps tracked while cycling. Doesn't seem that difficult. I shouldn't have to stop to think, gee I'm gonna be moving, I better turn on ALWAYS.

[ianb107]

I’m getting FedUp with my FitBit app persistently alerting me to switch ON my iPhone’s setting for location access for my Versa 2.  I select ‘Never’ each time, but get the same prompt each time I open the Fitbit app.  I do not use and have no intention of using the tracking feature.  You’d have thought Fitbit would have responded by this time with a solution to this issue.  If they respect customer privacy and offer a ‘never’ option that they’d ensure the option works.

[11252012]

I have the very same issue with the Charge 4.  I see there are no solutions.