| 115 | 115 | ## Data transfers |
| 116 | 116 | |
| 117 | 117 | We maintain [servers around the world](https://policies.google.com/privacy) 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](https://policies.google.com/privacy/frameworks) relating to the transfer of data. |
| 118 | 118 | |
| 119 | 119 | 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. |
| 120 | 120 | |
| 121 | | ## U.S. state law requirements |
| 121 | ## European requirements |
| 122 | 122 | |
| 123 | | Some [U.S. state privacy laws](https://policies.google.com/privacy) require specific disclosures. |
| 123 | ### How to exercise your rights and contact Google |
| 124 | 124 | |
| 125 | | This Privacy Policy is designed to help you understand how Google handles your information: |
| 125 | If European Union (EU) or United Kingdom (UK) data protection law applies to the processing of your information, we provide the [controls](https://policies.google.com/privacy) described in this policy so you can exercise your rights to request access to, update, [remove](https://policies.google.com/privacy), and restrict the processing of your information. You also have the right to object to the processing of your information or export your information to another service. |
| 126 | 126 | |
| 127 | | - We explain the categories of information Google collects and the sources of that information in [Information Google collects](https://policies.google.com/privacy). |
| 128 | | - We explain the purposes for which Google collects and uses information in [Why Google collects data](https://policies.google.com/privacy). |
| 129 | | - We explain when Google may disclose information in [Sharing your information](https://policies.google.com/privacy). Google does not sell your personal information. Google also does not "share" your personal information as that term is defined in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). |
| 130 | | - We explain how Google retains information in [Retaining your information](https://policies.google.com/privacy). You can also learn more about [how Google anonymizes data](https://policies.google.com/technologies/anonymization). As described there, when Google anonymizes data to protect your privacy, we maintain policies and technical measures to avoid re-identifying that information. |
| 127 | If you have additional questions or requests related to your rights, [you can contact Google and our data protection office](https://support.google.com/policies/troubleshooter/7575787). And you can contact your local data protection authority if you have concerns regarding your rights under local law. |
| 131 | 128 | |
| 132 | | U.S. state privacy laws also provide the right to request information about how Google collects, uses, and discloses your information. And they give you the right to access your information, sometimes in a portable format; correct your information; and to request that Google delete that information. Many of these laws also provide the right to opt out of certain forms of profiling and targeted advertising. They also provide the right to not be discriminated against for exercising these privacy rights. Additionally, the CCPA treats certain kinds of information, like health data, as sensitive; when users provide this information, Google only uses it for purposes permitted by the CCPA, like to provide services that are requested and expected by our users. |
| 129 | ### Data controller |
| 133 | 130 | |
| 134 | | The Washington My Health My Data Act and Nevada Senate Bill 370 provide specific rights in addition to those rights above, that apply to health information. When you provide health information subject to these laws, Google processes it with your consent, which you may withdraw, or as otherwise permitted by these laws. |
| 131 | Unless otherwise stated in a service-specific privacy notice, the [data controller responsible for processing your information](https://policies.google.com/privacy) depends on where you are based: |
| 135 | 132 | |
| 136 | | We describe the choices you have to manage your privacy and data across Google's services in [Your privacy controls](https://policies.google.com/privacy). These tools allow you to access, review, update and delete your information, as well as [export and download](https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout) a copy of it. You can also control what information we use to show you ads, or turn off personalized ads, by visiting [My Ad Center](https://myadcenter.google.com/). |
| 133 | - Google Ireland Limited for users of Google services based in the European Economic Area or Switzerland, located at Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. |
| 134 | - Google LLC for users of Google services based in the United Kingdom, located at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043, USA. |
| 137 | 135 | |
| 138 | | When you use these tools, we'll validate your request by verifying that you're signed in to your Google Account. If you have questions or requests related to your rights under U.S. state privacy laws, you (or your authorized agent) can also [contact Google](https://support.google.com/policies/answer/9581826). And if you disagree with the decision on your request, you can ask Google to reconsider it by responding to our email. |
| 136 | Google LLC is the data controller responsible for processing information indexed and displayed in services like [Google Search](https://www.google.com/search/howsearchworks/crawling-indexing/) and Google Maps regardless of your location. Google Ireland Limited is the data controller responsible for processing information to train Google's AI models for the purpose of deploying them in services provided by Google Ireland Limited in the European Economic Area or Switzerland. |
| 139 | 137 | |
| 140 | | We also provide [more information](https://policies.google.com/privacy/ccpa-report) on Google's handling of CCPA requests. |
| 138 | ### Legal bases of processing |
| 141 | 139 | |
| 142 | | Some U.S. state privacy laws also require a description of data practices using specific categories. This table uses these categories to organize the information in this Privacy Policy. |
| 140 | We process your information for the [purposes](https://policies.google.com/privacy) described in this policy, based on the following legal grounds: |
| 143 | 141 | |
| 144 | | ### Categories of information we collect |
| 142 | - We process your data in order to provide a service you've asked for under a contract. |
| 143 | - We process your data for our legitimate interests and those of [third parties](https://policies.google.com/privacy) while applying [appropriate safeguards](https://policies.google.com/privacy) that protect your privacy. |
| 144 | - We process your data when necessary to protect the vital interests of you or another person. |
| 145 | - We process your data when we have a legal obligation to do so. |
| 146 | - We ask for your consent to process your data for specific purposes and you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. |
| 145 | 147 | |
| 146 | | **Identifiers and similar information** such as your [name](https://myaccount.google.com/personal-info) and password, phone number, and address, as well as [unique identifiers](https://policies.google.com/privacy) tied to the browser, application, or device you're using. Some Google services like [YouTube Studio](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9891124) provide the option to submit a valid ID (such as a passport or driver's license) to verify your identity to use additional features. |
| 148 | How you use Google services and your privacy settings will determine what data is processed, the purposes for which this data is processed, and the legal bases for processing data. The table below explains these processing purposes, the kinds of data processed, and the legal grounds for processing this data, in more detail. |
| 147 | 149 | |
| 148 | | **Demographic information**, such as your [age](https://myaccount.google.com/personal-info), [gender](https://myaccount.google.com/gender) and [language](https://myaccount.google.com/language). If you choose to use optional features like [YouTube Creator Demographics](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/10272442), you can also provide additional information, like your gender identity or race and ethnicity. |
| 150 | | Why and how we process data | What data is processed | Legal grounds | |
| 151 | | --- | --- | --- | |
| 152 | | |
| 153 | **To provide Google services, products, and features** |
| 149 | 154 | |
| 150 | | **Commercial information** such as your [payment information](https://myaccount.google.com/payments-and-subscriptions) and a history of [purchases](https://myaccount.google.com/purchases) you make on Google's services. |
| 155 | Examples of processing activities: |
| 151 | 156 | |
| 152 | | **Biometric information** if you choose to provide it, such as fingerprints in Google's product development studies. |
| 157 | - We process the terms you search for in order to return results. |
| 158 | - We use the IP address assigned to your device to send you the data you requested, such as loading a YouTube video. |
| 159 | - We use unique identifiers stored in cookies on your device to help us authenticate you as the person who should have access to your Google Account. |
| 160 | - Photos and videos you upload to Google Photos are used to help you create albums, collages, and other creations that you can share. |
| 161 | - When you purchase services or physical goods from us, we use your shipping address or delivery instructions for things like processing, fulfilling, and delivering your order, and to provide support in connection with the product or service you purchase. |
| 162 | - We process your payment information when you buy extra storage for Google Drive. |
| 163 | - We can use contact info (like names and email addresses) of people you interact with in Google products to make it easier to find who you're looking for when you want to share and communicate with these people in other Google services like Gmail, Photos and Assistant. |
| 164 | - A flight confirmation email you receive may be used to create a "check-in" button that appears in your Gmail. |
| 165 | - Google also collects information about you from publicly accessible sources. For example, if your name appears in your local newspaper, Google's Search engine may index that article and display it to other people if they search for your name. Or, if your business's information appears on a website, we may index and display it on Google services. |
| 166 | - We can help you share your location using [Google Location Sharing](https://support.google.com/maps/answer/7326816), so that others can find you on a map, or know your estimated time of arrival. |
| 167 | - As described in the [Sharing your information](https://policies.google.com/privacy) section, we'll share personal information outside of Google when we have your consent, and provide you with controls to [review and manage third party apps and sites](https://myaccount.google.com/permissions) you have given access to data in your Google Account. |
| 153 | 168 | |
| 154 | | **Internet, network, and other activity information** such as your search terms; views and interactions with content and ads; Chrome browsing history you've synced with your Google Account; information about the interaction of your apps, browsers, and devices with our services (like IP address, crash reports, and system activity); and activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services. You can review and control activity data stored in your Google Account in [My Activity](https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity). |
| 169 | | |
| 155 | 170 | |
| 156 | | **Geolocation data**, such as may be determined by GPS, IP address, and other data from sensors on or around your device, depending in part on your device and account settings. Depending on these settings, this may include **precise location data**, for example GPS data for Android features like navigation or finding your phone. Learn more about [Google's use of location information](https://policies.google.com/technologies/location-data). |
| 171 | The information processed will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 157 | 172 | |
| 158 | | **Audio, electronic, visual, and similar information**, including [media (like images, files, audio and video) from your interactions](https://policies.google.com/privacy) |
| 173 | - [Things you create or provide to us](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 174 | - Content you create, upload, or receive (like photos, videos, emails, docs and spreadsheets). [Google Dashboard](https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard) allows you to manage information associated with specific products. |
| 175 | - Personal information that you provide us when you create a Google Account (like your [name](https://myaccount.google.com/personal-info) and password, [phone number](https://myaccount.google.com/phone), date of birth, or [payment information](https://myaccount.google.com/payments-and-subscriptions)). |
| 176 | - [Information that we collect as you use our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 177 | - [Information about your apps, browsers & devices](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as [unique identifiers](https://policies.google.com/privacy) tied to the browser, application, or device you're using; and information about the interaction of your apps, browsers, and devices with our services, (like IP address, crash reports, and system activity). |
| 178 | - [Information about your activity in our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as your search terms, Chrome browsing history you've synced with your Google Account, your views and interactions with content and ads, and your activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services. You can review and control activity data stored in your Google Account in [My Activity](https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity). |
| 179 | - [Location information](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as may be determined by GPS, IP address, and other data from sensors on or around your device, depending in part on your device and account settings. |
| 180 | - [Information from publicly accessible sources](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as information that's publicly available online (like if your name appears in a local newspaper article) or from other public sources. |
| 181 | - [Information from our trusted partners](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as from directory services who provide us with business information to be displayed on Google's services, or security partners who provide us with information to protect against abuse. |
| 159 | 182 | |
| 160 | | **Communications data**, such as emails, if you [use our services to send and receive messages](https://policies.google.com/privacy). |
| 183 | | |
| 161 | 184 | |
| 162 | | **Health information** if you choose to provide it, such as your medical history, vital signs and health metrics (like blood glucose levels), and other [similar information related to your physical or mental health](https://policies.google.com/privacy), in the course of using Google services that offer health-related features, such as the [Google Health Studies app, Fitbit, or Pixel devices.](https://health.google/consumers/health-studies/). |
| 185 | The legal grounds for processing this information will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 163 | 186 | |
| 164 | | **Professional, employment, and education information**, such as information [you provide](https://myaccount.google.com/profile) or that is maintained through an organization using Google services at which you study or work. |
| 187 | - To **perform a contract** with you, such as loading a YouTube video, or processing, fulfilling, and delivering your order when you purchase services or physical goods from us. |
| 188 | - When necessary for our **legitimate interests** and those of third parties, including to: |
| 189 | - **Provide, maintain, and improve services to meet the needs of our users**. For example, using contact info (like names and email addresses) of people you interact with in Google products to make it easier to find who you're looking for when you want to share and communicate with these people in other Google services like Gmail, Photos and Assistant. |
| 190 | - With your **consent**, such as when you choose to share your location with Google Location Sharing. |
| 165 | 191 | |
| 166 | | **Other information you create or provide**, such as the content you create, upload, or receive (like photos and videos or emails, docs and spreadsheets). [Google Dashboard](https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard) allows you to manage information associated with specific products. |
| 192 | | |
| 193 | | |
| 167 | 194 | |
| 168 | | **Inferences** drawn from the above, like your [ads interest categories](https://myadcenter.google.com/). |
| 195 | **To maintain and improve Google services, products, and features** |
| 169 | 196 | |
| 170 | | ### Business purposes for which information may be used or disclosed |
| 197 | **To maintain the service so it works as intended, such as debugging the service, tracking issues or troubleshooting issues.** |
| 171 | 198 | |
| 172 | | **Protecting against security threats, abuse, and illegal activity**: Google uses and may disclose information to detect, prevent and respond to security incidents, and for protecting against other malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity. For example, to protect our services, Google may receive or disclose information about IP addresses that malicious actors have compromised. |
| 199 | Examples of processing activities: |
| 173 | 200 | |
| 174 | | **Auditing and measurement**: Google uses information for analytics and measurement to understand how our services are used, as well as to fulfill obligations to our partners like publishers, advertisers, developers, or rights holders. We may disclose non-personally identifiable information publicly and with these partners, including for auditing purposes. |
| 201 | - We continuously monitor our systems to look for problems. And if we find something wrong with a specific feature, reviewing activity information collected before the problem started allows us to fix things more quickly. |
| 202 | - We log users' interactions with buttons on apps like Google Maps and Search to help understand if they are functioning as intended. |
| 175 | 203 | |
| 176 | | **Maintaining our services**: Google uses information to ensure our services are working as intended, such as tracking outages or troubleshooting bugs and other issues that you report to us. |
| 204 | **To make improvements to Google services and to help improve the safety and reliability of these services, such as to detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, abuse, security risks, and technical issues that could harm the service or users.** |
| 177 | 205 | |
| 178 | | **Research and development**: Google uses information to improve our services and to develop new products, features and technologies that benefit our users and the public. For example, we use publicly available information to help train Google's AI models and build products and features like Google Translate, Gemini Apps, and Cloud AI capabilities. |
| 206 | Examples of processing activities: |
| 179 | 207 | |
| 180 | | **Use of service providers**: Google shares information with service providers to perform services on our behalf, in compliance with our Privacy Policy and other appropriate confidentiality and security measures. For example, we may rely on service providers to help provide customer support. |
| 208 | - We analyze data about your interactions with our services to help us build better products. For example, it may help us discover that it's taking people too long to complete a certain task or that they have trouble finishing steps at all. We can then redesign that feature and improve the product for everyone. |
| 209 | - We analyze which search terms are most frequently misspelled to help us improve spell-check features used across our services. |
| 210 | - We analyze usage of Google Translate to improve translation quality and increase the availability of Translate in more languages. |
| 211 | - We analyze queries on Google Shopping in order to determine which products, merchants, and brands are relevant to different kinds of queries. |
| 212 | - Google Chrome's Safe Browsing feature can send information about suspicious websites between a user's browser and Google's servers to help protect against phishing, malware, malicious ads, and more. |
| 181 | 213 | |
| 182 | | **Advertising**: Google processes information to provide advertising, including online identifiers, browsing and search activity, and information about your location and interactions with advertisements. This keeps Google's services and many of the websites and services you use free of charge. You can control what information we use to show you ads by visiting your ad settings in [My Ad Center](https://myadcenter.google.com/). |
| 214 | | |
| 183 | 215 | |
| 184 | | **Legal reasons**: Google also uses information to satisfy applicable laws or regulations, and discloses information in response to legal process or enforceable government requests, including to law enforcement. We provide information about the number and type of requests we receive from governments in our [Transparency Report](https://transparencyreport.google.com/user-data/overview). |
| 216 | The information processed will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 185 | 217 | |
| 186 | | ### Parties with whom information may be disclosed |
| 218 | - [Things you create or provide to us](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 219 | - Content you create, upload, or receive (like photos, videos, emails, docs and spreadsheets). [Google Dashboard](https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard) allows you to manage information associated with specific products. |
| 220 | - Personal information that you provide us when you create a Google Account (like your [name](https://myaccount.google.com/personal-info) and password, [phone number](https://myaccount.google.com/phone), date of birth, or [payment information](https://myaccount.google.com/payments-and-subscriptions)). |
| 221 | - [Information that we collect as you use our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 222 | - [Information about your apps, browsers & devices](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as [unique identifiers](https://policies.google.com/privacy) tied to the browser, application, or device you're using; and information about the interaction of your apps, browsers, and devices with our services, (like IP address, crash reports, and system activity). |
| 223 | - [Information about your activity in our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as your search terms, Chrome browsing history you've synced with your Google Account, your views and interactions with content and ads, and your activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services. You can review and control activity data stored in your Google Account in [My Activity](https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity). |
| 224 | - [Location information](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as may be determined by GPS, IP address, and other data from sensors on or around your device, depending in part on your device and account settings. |
| 225 | - [Information from publicly accessible sources](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as information that's publicly available online (like if your name appears in a local newspaper article) or from other public sources. |
| 226 | - [Information from our trusted partners](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as from directory services who provide us with business information to be displayed on Google's services, or security partners who provide us with information to protect against abuse. |
| 187 | 227 | |
| 188 | | **Other people with whom you choose to share your information**, like docs or photos, videos or comments on YouTube, or health information through Fitbit's social features and third party applications. |
| 228 | | |
| 189 | 229 | |
| 190 | | **Third parties with your consent**, such as services that integrate with Google's services. You can [review and manage third party apps and sites](https://myaccount.google.com/permissions) with access to data in your Google Account. See more details about [when Google shares your information](https://policies.google.com/privacy). |
| 230 | The legal grounds for processing this information will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 191 | 231 | |
| 192 | | **Service providers**, trusted businesses, or persons that process information on Google's behalf, based on our instructions and in compliance with our Privacy Policy and any other appropriate confidentiality and security measures. |
| 232 | - To **perform a contract** with you, such as using logs of interactions with Google apps to ensure they are working as intended. |
| 233 | - When necessary for our **legitimate interests** and those of third parties, including to: |
| 234 | - **Provide, maintain, and improve services to meet the needs of our users.** For example, analyzing which search terms are most frequently misspelled to help us improve spell-check features used across our services. |
| 235 | - **Understand how people use our services to ensure and improve the performance of our services.** For example, analyzing usage of Google Translate to improve translation quality and increase the availability of Translate in more languages. |
| 236 | - **Perform research that improves our services for our users and benefits the public.** For example, improving Google Translate's translation quality and increasing the availability of Translate in more languages. |
| 193 | 237 | |
| 194 | | [Domain administrators](https://support.google.com/a/answer/6208960), if you work or study at an organization that uses Google services. |
| 238 | | |
| 239 | | |
| 195 | 240 | |
| 196 | | **Law enforcement or other third parties**, for the legal reasons described in [Sharing your information](https://policies.google.com/privacy). |
| 241 | **To develop new Google services, products and features** |
| 197 | 242 | |
| 243 | Examples of processing activities: |
| 244 | |
| 245 | - Understanding how people organized their photos in Picasa, Google's first photos app, helped us design and launch Google Photos. |
| 246 | - Understanding how users view and creators generate short-form content helped Google develop new YouTube services. |
| 247 | - Depending on your settings, we can save audio recordings of voice interactions with services like Google Search, Assistant, Maps, and Gboard to develop and improve Google audio technologies. |
| 248 | - We use publicly available information online or from other public sources to help train new machine learning models and build foundational technologies that power various Google products such as Google Translate, Gemini Apps, and Cloud AI capabilities. |
| 249 | - We use your interactions with AI models and technologies like Gemini Apps to develop, train, fine-tune, and improve these models to better handle your requests, and update their classifiers and filters including for safety, language understanding, and factuality. |
| 250 | |
| 251 | | |
| 252 | |
| 253 | The information processed will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 254 | |
| 255 | - [Things you create or provide to us](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 256 | - Content you create, upload, or receive (like photos, videos, emails, docs and spreadsheets). [Google Dashboard](https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard) allows you to manage information associated with specific products. |
| 257 | - Personal information that you provide us when you create a Google Account (like your [name](https://myaccount.google.com/personal-info) and password, [phone number](https://myaccount.google.com/phone), date of birth, or [payment information](https://myaccount.google.com/payments-and-subscriptions)). |
| 258 | - [Information that we collect as you use our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 259 | - [Information about your apps, browsers & devices](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as [unique identifiers](https://policies.google.com/privacy) tied to the browser, application, or device you're using; and information about the interaction of your apps, browsers, and devices with our services, (like IP address, crash reports, and system activity). |
| 260 | - [Information about your activity in our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as your search terms, Chrome browsing history you've synced with your Google Account, your views and interactions with content and ads, and your activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services. You can review and control activity data stored in your Google Account in [My Activity](https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity). |
| 261 | - [Location information](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as may be determined by GPS, IP address, and other data from sensors on or around your device, depending in part on your device and account settings. |
| 262 | - [Information from publicly accessible sources](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as information that's publicly available online (like if your name appears in a local newspaper article) or from other public sources. |
| 263 | - [Information from our trusted partners](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as from directory services who provide us with business information to be displayed on Google's services, or security partners who provide us with information to protect against abuse. |
| 264 | |
| 265 | | |
| 266 | |
| 267 | The legal grounds for processing this information will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 268 | |
| 269 | - When necessary for our **legitimate interests** and those of third parties, including to: |
| 270 | - **Develop new products and features that are useful for our users.** For example, understanding how people used photos in Picasa, Google's first photos app, helped us design and launch Google Photos. Or using information that's publicly available online or from other public sources to help train Google's AI models and build products and features using these foundational technologies, like Google Translate, Gemini Apps, and Cloud AI capabilities. |
| 271 | - **Provide, maintain, and improve services to meet the needs of our users.** For example, using information about your activity in our services, like your interactions with Gemini Apps, to train and improve machine learning models, and update their language understanding capabilities, safety classifiers and filters. |
| 272 | - With your **consent**, such as saving audio recordings of voice interactions with Google Search, Assistant, Maps, and Gboard to develop and improve Google audio technologies. |
| 273 | |
| 274 | | |
| 275 | | |
| 276 | |
| 277 | **To provide personalized services, including content and ads** |
| 278 | |
| 279 | **To customize our services for you, including providing recommendations, personalized content, and customized search results.** |
| 280 | |
| 281 | Examples of processing activities: |
| 282 | |
| 283 | - Google's Security Checkup feature provides security tips adapted to how you use Google products. |
| 284 | - Google News may provide you with local news results based on your approximate location. |
| 285 | - Google Search may provide you with results based on your approximate location. |
| 286 | - Google Assistant can use your contacts to send a message at your request, like "Send a text to John Smith." |
| 287 | - Google Play uses information like apps you've already installed and videos you've watched on YouTube to suggest new apps you might like. |
| 288 | - We may display a Google Doodle on the Search homepage to celebrate an event specific to your country. |
| 289 | - Google can show you ads based on the context of the site you're visiting, like ads for gardening equipment on a page about gardening tips. |
| 290 | - When you're signed in to your Google Account and have the Web & App Activity control enabled, you can get more relevant search results that are based on your previous searches and activity from other Google services. |
| 291 | |
| 292 | **Depending on your settings, to show you personalized ads based on your interests.** |
| 293 | |
| 294 | Examples of processing activities: |
| 295 | |
| 296 | - If you search for "mountain bikes" or watch videos of mountain biking, you may see an ad for sports equipment in your search results or on YouTube. |
| 297 | - If you watch videos about baking on YouTube, you may see more ads that relate to baking as you browse the web. |
| 298 | - You may also see personalized ads based on information from the advertiser. If you shopped on an advertiser's website, for example, they can use that visit information to show you ads. |
| 299 | |
| 300 | | |
| 301 | |
| 302 | The information processed will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 303 | |
| 304 | - [Things you create or provide to us](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 305 | - Content you create, upload, or receive (like photos, videos, emails, docs and spreadsheets). [Google Dashboard](https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard) allows you to manage information associated with specific products. |
| 306 | - Personal information that you provide us when you create a Google Account (like your [name](https://myaccount.google.com/personal-info) and password, [phone number](https://myaccount.google.com/phone), date of birth, or [payment information](https://myaccount.google.com/payments-and-subscriptions)). |
| 307 | - [Information that we collect as you use our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 308 | - [Information about your apps, browsers & devices](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as [unique identifiers](https://policies.google.com/privacy) tied to the browser, application, or device you're using; and information about the interaction of your apps, browsers, and devices with our services, (like IP address, crash reports, and system activity). |
| 309 | - [Information about your activity in our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as your search terms, Chrome browsing history you've synced with your Google Account, your views and interactions with content and ads, and your activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services. You can review and control activity data stored in your Google Account in [My Activity](https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity). |
| 310 | - [Location information](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as may be determined by GPS, IP address, and other data from sensors on or around your device, depending in part on your device and account settings. |
| 311 | - [Information from publicly accessible sources](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as information that's publicly available online (like if your name appears in a local newspaper article) or from other public sources. |
| 312 | - [Information from our trusted partners](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as from directory services who provide us with business information to be displayed on Google's services, or security partners who provide us with information to protect against abuse. |
| 313 | |
| 314 | | |
| 315 | |
| 316 | The legal grounds for processing this information will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 317 | |
| 318 | - To **perform a contract** with you, such as when Google Assistant uses your contacts to send a message at your request, like "Send a text to John Smith." |
| 319 | - When necessary for our **legitimate interests** and those of third parties, including to: |
| 320 | - **Customize our services to provide you with a better user experience.** For example, displaying a Google Doodle on the Search homepage to celebrate an event specific to your country, providing security tips adapted to how you use Google products, or tailoring the experience to be age-appropriate, if relevant. |
| 321 | - **Provide advertising, which allows us to offer many of our services without a fee.** For example, showing you ads based on the context of the site you're visiting, like ads for gardening equipment on a page about gardening tips. (And when ads are personalized, we ask for your consent.) |
| 322 | - With your **consent**, such as recommending apps on Google Play based on videos you've watched on YouTube, or showing you personalized ads based on your interests, like ads that relate to baking as you browse the web after watching videos about baking on YouTube. |
| 323 | |
| 324 | | |
| 325 | | |
| 326 | |
| 327 | **To measure performance - We use data for analytics and measurement to understand how our services are used.** |
| 328 | |
| 329 | Examples of processing activities: |
| 330 | |
| 331 | - We analyze data about your visits to our sites to do things like optimize product design. |
| 332 | - We use data about the ads you interact with to help advertisers understand the performance of their ad campaigns. |
| 333 | - We use data about which places users click most on Google Earth to understand which features are popular and to identify bugs. |
| 334 | - Google Search measures the number of times a particular query has been made, and how users perceive the quality of their search results, to make Search more useful. |
| 335 | - Google Translate analyzes data on the number of translations made and the number of times a translation is marked as poor quality, in order to identify potential new features and address issues that users are experiencing on the service. |
| 336 | - We may share non-personally identifiable information with our partners like content licensors to accompany royalty payments. |
| 337 | |
| 338 | | |
| 339 | |
| 340 | The information processed will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 341 | |
| 342 | - [Things you create or provide to us](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 343 | - Content you create, upload, or receive (like photos, videos, emails, docs and spreadsheets). [Google Dashboard](https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard) allows you to manage information associated with specific products. |
| 344 | - Personal information that you provide us when you create a Google Account (like your [name](https://myaccount.google.com/personal-info) and password, [phone number](https://myaccount.google.com/phone), date of birth, or [payment information](https://myaccount.google.com/payments-and-subscriptions)). |
| 345 | - [Information that we collect as you use our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 346 | - [Information about your apps, browsers & devices](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as [unique identifiers](https://policies.google.com/privacy) tied to the browser, application, or device you're using; and information about the interaction of your apps, browsers, and devices with our services, (like IP address, crash reports, and system activity). |
| 347 | - [Information about your activity in our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as your search terms, Chrome browsing history you've synced with your Google Account, your views and interactions with content and ads, and your activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services. You can review and control activity data stored in your Google Account in [My Activity](https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity). |
| 348 | - [Location information](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as may be determined by GPS, IP address, and other data from sensors on or around your device, depending in part on your device and account settings. |
| 349 | - [Information from publicly accessible sources](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as information that's publicly available online (like if your name appears in a local newspaper article) or from other public sources. |
| 350 | - [Information from our trusted partners](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as from directory services who provide us with business information to be displayed on Google's services, or security partners who provide us with information to protect against abuse. |
| 351 | |
| 352 | | |
| 353 | |
| 354 | The legal grounds for processing this information will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 355 | |
| 356 | - When necessary for our **legitimate interests** and those of third parties, including to: |
| 357 | - **Understand how people use our services to ensure and improve the performance of our services.** For example, analyzing usage of Google Translate to improve translation quality and increase the availability of Translate in more languages. |
| 358 | - **Detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, abuse, security, or technical issues with our services.** For example, monitoring usage patterns on Google Earth to identify bugs. |
| 359 | - **Provide, maintain, and improve services to meet the needs of our users.** For example, analyzing the number of times a translation is marked as poor quality on Google Translate in order to address issues that users are experiencing on the service. |
| 360 | - **Develop new products and features that are useful for our users.** For example, analyzing data on the number of translations made on Google Translate to identify potential new features. |
| 361 | - **Fulfill obligations to our partners like developers and rights holders.** For example, providing reporting to content licensors to accompany royalty payments. |
| 362 | |
| 363 | | |
| 364 | | |
| 365 | |
| 366 | **To communicate with you - We use information we collect, like your email address, to interact with you directly.** |
| 367 | |
| 368 | Examples of processing activities: |
| 369 | |
| 370 | - We may send you a notification if we detect suspicious activity, like an attempt to sign in to your Google Account from an unusual location. |
| 371 | - We may let you know about upcoming changes or improvements to our services. |
| 372 | - If you contact Google, we'll keep a record of your request in order to help solve any issues you might be facing. |
| 373 | - Google services like Photos may send you marketing communications about its product offerings like printing promotions, depending on your settings. |
| 374 | - Google services like YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium may notify you about upcoming changes to your subscription. |
| 375 | |
| 376 | | |
| 377 | |
| 378 | The information processed will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 379 | |
| 380 | - [Things you create or provide to us](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 381 | - Content you create, upload, or receive (like photos, videos, emails, docs and spreadsheets). [Google Dashboard](https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard) allows you to manage information associated with specific products. |
| 382 | - Personal information that you provide us when you create a Google Account (like your [name](https://myaccount.google.com/personal-info) and password, [phone number](https://myaccount.google.com/phone), date of birth, or [payment information](https://myaccount.google.com/payments-and-subscriptions)). |
| 383 | - [Information that we collect as you use our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 384 | - [Information about your apps, browsers & devices](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as [unique identifiers](https://policies.google.com/privacy) tied to the browser, application, or device you're using; and information about the interaction of your apps, browsers, and devices with our services, (like IP address, crash reports, and system activity). |
| 385 | - [Information about your activity in our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as your search terms, Chrome browsing history you've synced with your Google Account, your views and interactions with content and ads, and your activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services. You can review and control activity data stored in your Google Account in [My Activity](https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity). |
| 386 | - [Location information](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as may be determined by GPS, IP address, and other data from sensors on or around your device, depending in part on your device and account settings. |
| 387 | - [Information from publicly accessible sources](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as information that's publicly available online (like if your name appears in a local newspaper article) or from other public sources. |
| 388 | - [Information from our trusted partners](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as from directory services who provide us with business information to be displayed on Google's services, or security partners who provide us with information to protect against abuse. |
| 389 | |
| 390 | | |
| 391 | |
| 392 | The legal grounds for processing this information will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 393 | |
| 394 | - To **perform a contract** with you, such as when you contact Google for support or sign up for communications about product updates. |
| 395 | - When necessary for our **legitimate interests** and those of third parties, including to: |
| 396 | - **Provide, maintain, and improve services to meet the needs of our users.** For example, informing you about our services, such as to let you know about upcoming changes or improvements to our services. |
| 397 | - **Marketing to inform users about our services.** For example, emailing users of Photos about a printing promotion. |
| 398 | |
| 399 | | |
| 400 | | |
| 401 | |
| 402 | **To protect Google, our users, and the public** |
| 403 | |
| 404 | **To help improve the safety and reliability of our services, including detecting, preventing, and responding to fraud, abuse, security risks, and technical issues that could harm Google, our users, or the public.** |
| 405 | |
| 406 | Examples of processing activities: |
| 407 | |
| 408 | - We collect and analyze 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. |
| 409 | - 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. |
| 410 | - We analyze your content to help us [detect abuse](https://policies.google.com/privacy) such as spam, malware, and illegal content. For example, YouTube [likeness detection](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/16440338) helps users find and report potential abuse by detecting faces in YouTube videos that appear to be altered or generated by AI. |
| 411 | - We process information about requests to remove content from our services under Google's content removal policies or applicable law to assess the request, and to ensure transparency, improve accountability and prevent abuse and fraud in these practices. |
| 412 | |
| 413 | **To meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request.** |
| 414 | |
| 415 | Examples of processing activities: |
| 416 | |
| 417 | - 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. |
| 418 | - Certain laws require us to share information with regulators and third parties, such as researchers and authorized out-of-court dispute bodies. |
| 419 | - Legal obligations sometimes require us to retain certain information for purposes like financial record-keeping, such as information about a payment you've made to Google for tax or accounting purposes. |
| 420 | - Various laws and regulations require us to put in place measures to confirm that our users are old enough to use our services. To help determine your age, we process the date of birth you provide. We also process information about your activity in our services, both when you're signed in to a Google Account or signed out, and use machine learning technology to determine if you are likely over 18. In certain cases, if we cannot confirm that you are old enough to use our services by other means, we can request other information to verify your age, like your government ID, credit card, a photo of you, or your phone number. |
| 421 | |
| 422 | | |
| 423 | |
| 424 | The information processed will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 425 | |
| 426 | - [Things you create or provide to us](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 427 | - Content you create, upload, or receive (like photos, videos, emails, docs and spreadsheets). [Google Dashboard](https://myaccount.google.com/dashboard) allows you to manage information associated with specific products. |
| 428 | - Personal information that you provide us when you create a Google Account (like your [name](https://myaccount.google.com/personal-info) and password, [phone number](https://myaccount.google.com/phone), date of birth, or [payment information](https://myaccount.google.com/payments-and-subscriptions)). |
| 429 | - [Information that we collect as you use our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy): |
| 430 | - [Information about your apps, browsers & devices](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as [unique identifiers](https://policies.google.com/privacy) tied to the browser, application, or device you're using; and information about the interaction of your apps, browsers, and devices with our services, (like IP address, crash reports, and system activity). |
| 431 | - [Information about your activity in our services](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as your search terms, Chrome browsing history you've synced with your Google Account, your views and interactions with content and ads, and your activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services. You can review and control activity data stored in your Google Account in [My Activity](https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity). |
| 432 | - [Location information](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as may be determined by GPS, IP address, and other data from sensors on or around your device, depending in part on your device and account settings. |
| 433 | - [Information from publicly accessible sources](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as information that's publicly available online (like if your name appears in a local newspaper article) or from other public sources. |
| 434 | - [Information from our trusted partners](https://policies.google.com/privacy), such as from directory services who provide us with business information to be displayed on Google's services, or security partners who provide us with information to protect against abuse. |
| 435 | |
| 436 | | |
| 437 | |
| 438 | The legal grounds for processing this information will depend on how you use Google services and your settings but could include the following: |
| 439 | |
| 440 | - When necessary for our **legitimate interests** and those of third parties, including to: |
| 441 | - **Enforce legal claims, including investigation of potential violations of applicable Terms of Service.** For example, analyzing content to help us detect abuse such as spam, malware, and illegal content. |
| 442 | - **Detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, abuse, security, or technical issues with our services.** For example, collecting and analyzing IP addresses and cookie data to protect against automated abuse. |
| 443 | - **Protect against harm to the rights, property or safety of Google, our users, or the public, including disclosing information to government authorities.** For example, responding to legal process or enforceable requests from governments and courts to disclose data, after carefully reviewing each request to make sure it satisfies applicable laws. |
| 444 | - **Perform research that improves our services for our users and benefits the public.** For example, processing information about [requests to remove content](https://support.google.com/legal/answer/3110420) from our services to educate the public, facilitate research, and provide transparency about these requests. |
| 445 | - When necessary to protect the **vital interests** of you or another person. For example, processing data to detect and combat online child sexual abuse. |
| 446 | - When we have a **legal obligation** to do so, such as retaining certain information for purposes like financial record-keeping, or processing and retaining information to help ensure that users are old enough to use our services. |
| 447 | |
| 448 | | |
| 449 | |
| 450 | ### Linking your Google services |
| 451 | |
| 452 | If you're a user in the EU, we offer you the choice to keep certain Google services linked. You can learn more about your linked services and how to manage your choices at [About DMA & Your Linked Services](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/14202510). |
| 453 | |
| 198 | 454 | ## Key terms |
| 199 | 455 | |
| 200 | 456 | ### Affiliates |
| 201 | 457 | |
| 202 | 458 | An affiliate is an entity that belongs to the Google group of companies, including the following companies that provide consumer services in the EU: Google Ireland Limited, Google Commerce Ltd, Google Payment Corp, and Google Dialer Inc. Learn more about the [companies providing business services in the EU](https://privacy.google.com/businesses/affiliates). |
| 203 | 459 | |