Yes, they track anonymous location data. The point is, Apple didn’t have a problem with it and was in fact not happy they didn’t get the data for themselves. In fact, Apple Maps does the same.
The article you posted is nothing to do with pulling Google Maps as a default app and is, in fact, specific to Android.
And that’s just it: I’m a Windows guy. Engineering programs just are not on Mac. My iPhone is my only Apple product. So Google is what better integrates for me.
From the article:
“His office began investigating how Google handles user location data after reporting from the Associated Press in 2018 found that many Google apps across iOS and Android recorded location data even when users have chosen privacy options that explicitly say they won’t”
