locate-update-path

locate-update-path is a variable defined in `locate.el'.
Its value is

"/"

Documentation:
The default directory from where `locate-update-command' is called.
Usually, root permissions are required to run that command. This
can be achieved by setting this option to "/su::" or "/sudo::"
(if you have the appropriate authority). If your current user
permissions are sufficient to run the command, you can set this
option to "/".

You can customize this variable.

This variable was introduced, or its default value was changed, in version 22.1 of Emacs.