Google Privacy: What Data Do They Collect?

TL;DR

No, Google can’t read your mind! But they collect a lot of data about what you do online and with their services. This guide explains what data they gather, why, and how to limit it.

1. What Data Does Google Collect?

Google collects information in several ways:

1. Search History: Every search you make is recorded (if you’re logged into your Google account).
2. Location Data: Through Google Maps, Android phones, and location settings.
3. YouTube History: Videos you watch, channels you subscribe to, and searches within YouTube.
4. Browsing Activity (Chrome): Websites you visit if Chrome is synced with your account.
5. Gmail Content: Google scans your emails to provide features like smart replies and categorisation (though they state this isn’t used for targeted advertising).
6. Voice Data: If you use voice search or Google Assistant, recordings are stored (again, with options to control this – see below).
7. Device Information: Type of device, operating system, unique identifiers.

2. Why Does Google Collect This Data?

Google uses your data for several reasons:

• Personalised Ads: To show you ads they think you’ll be interested in.
• Improved Services: To refine search results, recommend videos, and enhance features.
• Product Development: To understand how people use their products and make improvements.

3. How to Limit Google Data Collection

You can take steps to reduce the amount of data Google collects:

1. Use a Privacy-Focused Browser: Consider browsers like DuckDuckGo, Brave or Firefox Focus which block trackers by default.
2. Google Activity Controls: This is your main control panel.
   • Go to My Google Account – Activity Controls.
   • Turn off Web & App Activity, Location History and YouTube History if you don’t want these recorded. You can also choose to auto-delete data after a set period (3 months, 18 months or 36 months).
3. Ad Personalisation:
   • Go to Google Ads Settings.
   • Turn off Ad personalisation if you don’t want targeted ads. Note this won’t stop *all* ads, just personalised ones.
4. Gmail Privacy:
   • Check your Data from apps settings to see what third-party apps have access to your Gmail. Revoke access if necessary.
5. Voice Activity:
   • Go to Google Voice activity.
   • Review and delete recordings, or turn off Web & App Activity (which includes voice data).
6. Incognito Mode: Use Chrome’s Incognito mode for browsing without saving history, cookies, or site data. However, this doesn’t hide your activity from your internet service provider or employer if you are using a managed network.
7. VPN (Virtual Private Network): A VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address, making it harder to track your location.

4. Checking What Google Knows About You

Google lets you download a copy of your data:

1. Go to Google Takeout.
2. Select the services whose data you want to export (e.g., Search, YouTube, Gmail).
3. Choose a delivery method and file type.

5. Important Considerations

Even with these steps, Google still collects some basic information. Completely avoiding data collection is difficult when using their services. Regularly reviewing your privacy settings is crucial.