> Surely Google doesn't get your location every ~10 seconds to know whether to send your device an alert; that's too battery-draining. Maybe it sends your location a few times per day~hour and they'll just use that?
Why not?
You can use router IP address for location and WiFi to send. Minimal power consumption.
Then you don't need location services on. That only gatekeeps WiFi and Bluetooth scan results as well as GNSS. It doesn't gatekeep Internet access so they always get your IP when you talk to the server
Sadly my IP is routinely from the wrong country and I don't use a VPN
Why not?
You can use router IP address for location and WiFi to send. Minimal power consumption.