In earlier iOS versions, giving location access to any app would always share the precise coordinates of the device with the app.
While it is important for apps like Map, or e-commerce apps offering online delivery, or other navigation apps, to know GPS-level positioning, many other apps don’t actually need such precise data, such as weather apps. So, in such cases, sharing exact location would pose as a privacy risk.
With the launch of iOS 14, Apple has rolled out the toggle ‘Precise Location’ feature. Turning this feature ‘ON’ or ‘OFF’ would allow the user to choose whether to share the exact or approximate location.
According to the image shared by 9to5Mac, users will see the Precise location toggle whenever an app demands access to the location.
If an app necessarily needs precise location, Apple will let the developers design the app in a way to ask for it. In turn, the developers can include a detailed explanation in the app to let the users know why they should share the precise location coordinates with the app.
Such apps can either ask for temporary or permanent access to precise location.
Whereas, to balance between user privacy and app performance, the new iOS will also empower users to even turn off precise location for the Map.
In that case, the map will show a large circle depicting the approximate location instead of the exact coordinates. The user may be located anywhere in that circle, not necessarily to be in the center of it.
Apple announced the launch of iOS 14 in June 2020. It is currently in beta development and will roll out in fall 2020.
