Google collects data about you in order to serve you more personalized ads, but disables many features without affecting your access to our services.
As the company behind the world’s largest search engine, video platform, email provider and mobile operating system, Google knows a lot about its users.
Google knows you well. You may type a few words into the search box and not realize it, but Google keeps track of a lot of information about you and your searches.
Google is open about the data it collects. When you search on Google, it collect the following data:
- websites you visit
- the video you are watching
- Ads clicked or tapped
- your place
- Device information
- IP address and cookie data
This data is stored in cookies, identifies you and your device, and is linked to your profile in Google’s data centers. By triangulating this data, Google can learn more about you as we track you across websites using cookies that respond to advertising code. That way, you’ll know what your users are looking for every time they browse the web, not just when they use Google.
This is how Google Maps finds your location.
Google records your movements in detail. This record is available as part of your location history data. Users can view and manage their Location History information through Google’s Timeline, available on both mobile- and desktop-based platforms. You can also edit specific entries from the Location History section, remove information from time ranges, or delete all Location History data. GPS: With the help of satellites, Google Maps knows your location up to a distance of about 20 meters. GPS: With the help of satellites, Google Maps knows your location up to a distance of about 20 meters. Wi-Fi: Nearby Wi-Fi network locations help maps interpret your location.
One of the Google settings dashboard options above is the ability to find out where Google thinks you’ve been. You can go right under your location history. This is usually tracked using your smartphone’s GPS. Even if you’re not using an Android phone, you may be signed in to your Google Account on your iPhone.
Can Google access your photos?
Yes, Google can access your photos. However, this does not mean that your image will be used in Google Photos ads or entered into Google Image Search. According to some reports online, this access means Google can scan your photos for metadata and target them with ads.
When you turn on Web & App Activity and search on Google, Google saves your activity, including your search history, to your Google Account. We use your saved activity across Google services to provide you with a more personalized experience, including recommendations for apps and content.
Google Apps can access your data. This list may last for a while, so let’s summarize it with: and other Google apps or services. These include Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Photos, Google Drive and more.