Google · Data Usage

What This Policy Is About

This policy explains what Google collects about you when you browse other websites and apps — not just Google's own products. If a site uses Google Ads, AdSense, Google Analytics, or embeds a YouTube video, your browser automatically sends information to Google just by loading that page. You don't need to click anything or have a Google account for this to happen.

What Google Does With That Data

Google uses the information to run its advertising business: serving ads, measuring whether ads worked, and building a profile of your interests to show you more relevant ads across different sites. It also uses the data to improve its services, detect fraud, and develop new products. If a site asks for your consent before letting Google process your data (via a cookie banner, for example), Google says it will follow the purposes you agreed to on that site — not its broader Privacy Policy defaults.

Ad Personalization: On vs. Off

If ad personalization is on, Google tracks your browsing across sites to build an interest profile and retarget you (e.g., you visit a bike shop, then see bike ads elsewhere). If you turn it off, Google won't build that profile, but you'll still see ads based on the current page topic, your search terms, or your rough location. Either way, Google still collects data for fraud detection and ad measurement.

Your Controls

You have a few options to limit data collection: use Ad Settings to opt out of personalized ads, use My Activity to review and delete saved history (if signed in), install the Google Analytics browser add-on to block Analytics tracking, or block third-party cookies in your browser. Note: Chrome's Incognito mode does not stop Google from collecting data on sites that use Google services.