Making it easy to understand what data we collect and why

When you use our services – for example, do a search on Google, get directions on Maps, or watch a video on YouTube – we collect data to make these services work better for you. This can include:

• Things you search for
• Videos you watch
• Ads you view or click
• Your location
• Websites you visit
• Apps, browsers, and devices you use to access Google services

When you sign up for a Google Account, you provide us with personal information. If you are signed in, we collect and protect information you create when using our services. This can include:

• Your name, birthday, and gender
• Your password and phone number
• Emails you write and receive on Gmail
• Photos and videos you save
• Docs, Sheets, and Slides you create on Drive
• Comments you make on YouTube
• Contacts you add
• Calendar events

When you use the Google Maps app, your phone sends anonymous bits of data about your location back to Google. This is combined with data from people around you to recognize traffic patterns. For instance, Maps can detect when a lot of vehicles are moving slowly along the same street and let you know there is heavy traffic. So the next time Maps warns you of an accident and guides you to a faster route, you have data from your fellow drivers to thank for the shortcut.

You know when you search for something and you make a typo – and somehow Google knows what you meant anyway? Our spelling correction model uses data from people who have made the same mistake before to correct it for you. That is how we know that when you type “Barsalona,” you most likely mean “Barcelona.”

Your search history can also help Google autocomplete your searches. For example, if you have searched for “Barcelona flights” before, we might suggest this in the search box before you even finish typing it. Or if you are a fan of a soccer team and often search “Barcelona scores,” we might suggest that right away.

YouTube recommends videos you may like based on what you have watched before and what other people with similar viewing histories have watched before. We also get cues about what is popular and trending based on what everyone is watching. This helps us suggest videos across a variety of genres – like top music tracks, how-to tutorials, and news – for you to choose from.

Every time you make a purchase or sign up for an account online, you spend time filling out forms with your personal information. When you use Chrome, we can save things like your name, address, phone number, email address, and payment information so that we can autocomplete these forms for you. You can always edit specific autofill fields or disable this setting altogether.

Google Search can fetch useful information from Gmail, Google Photos, Calendar, and more, and show it in your private search results so you don’t have to do the digging yourself. Just search for things like “my dentist appointment,” “show me my photos at the beach,” or “where is my hotel reservation.” As long as you are signed in, we will pull this information from other Google services and get it to you in just one step.

Whether you are at home or on the go, your Assistant is always ready to help. When you ask your Assistant a question or tell it what to do, it uses data from other Google services to get you what you need. For example, if you ask, “What coffee shops are nearby?” or “Do I need an umbrella tomorrow?” your Assistant uses information from Maps and Search as well as your location, interests, and preferences to give you the most relevant answer. You can always visit the My Activity tool in your Google Account to view or delete data that is collected from interactions with your Assistant.

We rely on our internal privacy team and a comprehensive review process for any new product launch. We are dedicated at every level of product development to making privacy a key consideration – from engineering to product management. This helps ensure that people can trust the Google products they enjoy every day.

To improve Location services, Google uses publicly broadcast Wi-Fi data from wireless access points and GPS, cell tower, and sensor data. To learn more, or for instructions about removing your Wi-Fi access point from Google’s location services, click here.