Google Promises to Remove Android Tracking When Location Services Disabled

[engine]

According to research by Quartz, Google still tracks a smartphone when a users has not inserted a SIM card, has turned off location services, and has not used any apps.

By the end of November, the company said, Android phones will no longer send cell-tower location data to Google, at least as part of this particular service, which consumers cannot disable. Google Promises to Remove Android Tracking When Location Services Disabled [qz.com]

[MayankParmar]

So the removal was in plan since the beginning or they have just decided to remove it because of the criticism and controversy?