Effective September 16, 2024 | Archived versions | contact us.

Why Google collects data

We use data to build better services

We use the information we collect from all our services for the following purposes:

Provide our services

We use the information we collect to customize our services for you, including providing recommendations, personalized content, and customized search results. For example, Go to My Ad Center

Measure performance

Your privacy controls

You have choices regarding the information we collect and how it's used

This section describes key controls for managing your privacy across our services. You can also visit the

Go to Shared Endorsements

Google Dashboard

Google Dashboard allows you to manage information associated with specific products.

Choose whether your search activity is used to offer you more relevant results and recommendations.

  • YouTube settings: Pause and delete your
  • Delete your entire Google Account

    request to remove content from specific Google services based on applicable law and our policies.


    There are other ways to control the information Google collects whether or not you’re signed in to a Google Account, including:

    • Browser settings: For example, you can configure your browser to indicate when Google has set a cookie in your browser. You can also configure your browser to block all cookies from a specific domain or all domains. But remember that our services rely on cookies to function properly, for things like remembering your language preferences.
    • Device-level settings: Your device may have controls that determine what information we collect. For example, you can use Google Home to make a reservation through a booking service, we’ll get your permission before sharing your name or phone number with the restaurant. We also provide you with controls to

    Keeping your information secure

    We build security into our services to protect your information

    All Google products are built with strong security features that continuously protect your information. The insights we gain from maintaining our services help us detect and automatically block security threats from ever reaching you. And if we do detect something risky that we think you should know about, we’ll notify you and help guide you through steps to stay better protected.

    We work hard to protect you and Google from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction of information we hold, including:

    Delete your entire Google Account

    photos and

    Compliance & cooperation with regulators

    We regularly review this Privacy Policy and make sure that we process your information in ways that comply with it.

    Data transfers

    We maintain servers around the world and your information may be processed on servers located outside of the country where you live. Data protection laws vary among countries, with some providing more protection than others. Regardless of where your information is processed, we apply the same protections described in this policy. We also comply with certain legal frameworks relating to the transfer of data.

    When we receive formal written complaints, we respond by contacting the person who made the complaint. We work with the appropriate regulatory authorities, including local data protection authorities, to resolve any complaints regarding the transfer of your data that we cannot resolve with you directly.

    About this policy

    When this policy applies

    This Privacy Policy applies to all of the services offered by Google LLC and its affiliates, including YouTube, Android, and services offered on third-party sites, such as advertising services. This Privacy Policy doesn’t apply to services that have separate privacy policies that do not incorporate this Privacy Policy.

    This Privacy Policy doesn’t apply to:

    • The information practices of other companies and organizations that advertise our services
    • Services offered by other companies or individuals, including products or sites they offer that may include Google services to which the policy applies, or products or sites displayed to you in search results, or linked from our services

    Changes to this policy

    We change this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will not reduce your rights under this Privacy Policy without your explicit consent. We always indicate the date the last changes were published and we offer access to archived versions for your review. If changes are significant, we’ll provide a more prominent notice (including, for certain services, email notification of Privacy Policy changes).

    Related privacy practices

    Specific Google services

    The following privacy notices provide additional information about some Google services:

    • Google Fi
    • Google Accounts Managed with Family Link, for Children under 13 (or applicable age in your country)
    • Privacy Checkup guides you through key privacy settings for your Google Account
    • My Activity.

      activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services

      Websites and apps that integrate Google services like ads and analytics share information with us.

      This information is collected regardless of which browser or browser mode you use. For example, although Incognito mode in Chrome can help keep your browsing private from other people who use your device, third party sites and apps that integrate our services may still share information with Google when you visit them.

      You can learn more about some of the ways you can control the information that is shared when you visit or interact with sites and apps that use Google services.

      ads you’ll find most useful

      For example, if you watch videos about baking on YouTube, you may see more ads that relate to baking as you browse the web. We also may use your IP address to determine your approximate location, so that we can serve you ads for a nearby pizza delivery service if you search for “pizza.” Learn more learn more here. You may also get customized search results even when you’re signed out. If you don’t want this level of search customization, you can Learn more

      Like other technology and communications companies, Google regularly receives requests from governments and courts around the world to disclose user data. Respect for the privacy and security of data you store with Google underpins our approach to complying with these legal requests. Our legal team reviews each and every request, regardless of type, and we frequently push back when a request appears to be overly broad or doesn’t follow the correct process. Learn more in our Learn more

      payment information

      For example, if you add a credit card or other payment method to your Google Account, you can use it to buy things across our services, like apps in the Play Store. We may also ask for other information, like a business tax ID, to help process your payment. In some cases, we may also need to verify your identity and may ask you for information to do this.

      We may also use payment information to verify that you meet age requirements, if, for example, you enter an incorrect birthday indicating you’re not old enough to have a Google Account. Google Account.

      protect against abuse

      For example, information about security threats can help us notify you if we think your account has been compromised (at which point we can help you take steps to protect your account).

      publicly accessible sources

      For example, we may collect information that’s publicly available online or from other public sources to help train Google’s AI models and build products and features like Google Translate, Gemini Apps, and Cloud AI capabilities. Or, if your business’s information appears on a website, we may index and display it on Google services.

      rely on cookies to function properly

      For example, we use a cookie called ‘lbcs’ that makes it possible for you to open many Google Docs in one browser. Blocking this cookie would prevent Google Docs from working as expected. Learn more

      safety and reliability

      Some examples of how we use your information to help keep our services safe and reliable include:

      • Collecting and analyzing IP addresses and cookie data to protect against automated abuse. This abuse takes many forms, such as sending spam to Gmail users, stealing money from advertisers by fraudulently clicking on ads, or censoring content by launching a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack.
      • The “last account activity” feature in Gmail can help you find out if and when someone accessed your email without your knowledge. This feature shows you information about recent activity in Gmail, such as the IP addresses that accessed your mail, the associated location, and the date and time of access. Learn more

        similar information related to your physical or mental health

        If you use fitness products and apps we offer, such as Fitbit, Pixel Watch, Nest or Google Fit, we collect data you provide, like your height and weight. We also collect information from these apps and devices, such as your sleep patterns, heart rate, skin temperature, calories burned, and steps taken.

        specific Google services

        For example, you can delete Learn more

        the people who matter most to you online

        For example, when you type an address in the To, Cc, or Bcc field of an email you're composing, Gmail will suggest addresses based on the people you Learn more

      • The Google app can use data that you have stored in other Google products to show you personalized content, depending on your settings. For example, if you have searches stored in your Web & App Activity, the Google app can show you news articles and other information about your interests, like sports scores, based on your activity.
      • If you connect your Google Account to your Google Home, you can manage your information and get things done through the Google Assistant. For example, you can add events to your Google Calendar or get your schedule for the day, ask for status updates on your upcoming flight, or send information like driving directions to your phone.
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