Add option to disable automatic IP-based location inference

xx

I have noticed that Kagi Maps is automatically using my IP address to estimate my location, even though I never gave permission for this.

I am using Brave on iOS with no browser-level location permissions granted. However, whenever I search for a business on Kagi Search, I see my estimated location in the Kagi Maps widget. It appears to infer this location solely based on my IP. I confirmed this behavior by toggling a VPN, which immediately shifted the estimated location.

The Issue

Kagi Maps appears to use IP-based location by default without asking. In the Privacy Settings, it states:

"Your location is currently being determined by your IP address."

There is currently no toggle to turn this off. The only option provided is to "Fetch precise location."

Please add a setting to disable "Location from IP address." My IP should not be used to determine my location for map results unless I explicitly consent to it.

Nyaa

Thank you for your reply;

xx Please add a setting to disable "Location from IP address."

I still don't quite understand though.
What exactly would be gained, to ask for "permission" to determine the location based on our IP address ? What's the benefit / point, of asking this?

xx and tried to determine my location based on my IP address without permission.

Because if i understand correctly, it's not trying to "determine" your location.
It's only showing you what location is assigned to your public IP address in public geolocation databases.

Anonymous12

This is an interesting piece of feedback. I was trying to see if I could recreate it but it seems like Kagi is only giving me a very generalized location, ie. the nearest city (40 km away from where I actually am). I haven't been able to get it to show me any closer than that.

@xx what would you suggest Kagi shows as a default location for maps with your proposal? I suppose it has to orientate itself somewhere unless it's just going to show you the earth as seen from the moon or somethin' 😁

xx

Anonymous12 My IPs Geo Location is pretty accurate, I checked several IP lookup sites such as ip.me by Proton.

The issue is this showed up within the search results on a Map widget with an estimated location based on my IP address, I was never on Kagi Maps itself.

Nyaa

Note that there is no point in "asking" permission, regaring privacy;

You share your IP address with every website / server you connect to (including Kagi.)
So, every website can "determine" your approximate location, based on that IP address....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_geolocation?useskin=vector#Data_sources

xx

Nyaa I understand that however I wasn’t on Kagi Maps itself. I searched “the ritz London” on Kagi Search and it showed me a Kagi Maps widget and tried to determine my location based on my IP address without permission.

If I was on Kagi Maps itself I’d understand, however I wasn’t it was just embedded into the search results.

xx

Nyaa Consider a scenario where I am sharing my screen (during a meeting, stream, or recording). If I search for a generic destination like "The Ritz," and Kagi decides to automatically insert a Map widget calculated relative to my IP address, the interface essentially broadcasts my approximate location to everyone watching.

I was not on the Kagi Maps page (where one might expect location context). I was on a general search results page.

The server "knowing" my IP is backend data. The interface "showing" my location relative to that IP is a frontend choice. The benefit of a disable toggle is ensuring that the interface remains neutral and doesn't visually expose that data unprompted.

magiruuvelvet

To add a counterargument for comparison: OpenStreetMap remembers and shows the last visited coordinates. When visiting OSM for the first time it uses the vague GeoIP location, but heavily zoomed out on the map. I would prefer such a mode (remember last coordinates), instead of resetting back to a vague GeoIP location on each visit.

xigoi

xx the interface essentially broadcasts my approximate location to everyone watching.

Wouldn’t people watching behind your back already know where you are?

xx

xigoi I didn’t say “behind my back” unless you were referring to the meeting part? I was referring to a remote meeting but tbh that can also be covered by “streaming”. If you’re referring to a physical meeting you’d already know the answer.

RoxyRoxyRoxy

So the issue isn't that we're detecting your location, just that we sometiems auto-display it?

xx

RoxyRoxyRoxy Yeah on Kagi Search itself via a Maps Widget, I’d understand if I was on Kagi Maps.

RoxyRoxyRoxy

xx Sure, that makes sense I suppose.
Can you give some example queries where this was an issue? Just after testing "The Ritz" (an earlier example in thread) it doesn't show anything about my location.

xx

RoxyRoxyRoxy, sorry the exact query was just “Ritz London”. I’m using a VPN to hide my location. I apologise for the earlier error in the exact query.

This feature is definitely useful but I believe there should be an option to disable approximate location based on IP within the Kagi Maps widget embedded in Kagi Search.

https://kagi.com/search?q=ritz+london