Google – worlds most advanced search engine and tech company. These days any technology you see, you will find Google’s name on it. They have become a house hold commodity name and part of our life. Google changed our life so much.

But how much we actually know about Google. We all know that Google provide free information about everything and some of know that they also collect a massive amount of information about us. But how much information do they collect ? What types of information do they collect ? What do they do with that information ? Hers is your answer –

What Information They Collect

Personal Information

• User’s name
• Email address
• Credit card associated with Google account.
• What language you speak.

Device Information

• Device type like cell phone, laptop, tablet, desktop, others.
• Model of the device – eg. Samsung Galaxy s7 or iPhone 5 or Macbook Pro.
• Device software – Operating system, browser name.
• Device hardware unique number – like the IMEI (every cell phone has a unique 15 digit number) number for the cell phone
• Telephone number – if you are using your cell phone.
• ISP/Cell phone carrier information.

Location Information

• Your physical location –  when you ware using Google’s service. Google is able to detect your physical location if you are using Google’s service from your home of from a grocery store.
• Your IP address.

Activity History

• Your search History– eg. If you search for cooking recipe or if you search for a famous person.
• For Android Phone – phone number, calling-party number, forwarding numbers, time and date of calls, duration of calls, SMS routing information and types of calls.
• YouTube – what video you watched and what videos you liked.

How Do They Collect

Google collect your information every time you use any Google service like –

• Google website – www.google.com to search something.
• Google Product – Android phone, android tablet, Chrome operating system.
• Google has created software that runs in the hardware level and collect these information.

How Google Use The Collected Information

• They use the collected information mainly to maintain and improve their products.
• They also use these information to (eg. location or language etc.) to display adds and other commercial contexts.

With Whom do They Share Information

Share For Business

Google do not share their users personal information with companies, organizations and individuals outside of Google unless one of the following circumstances applies:

• They share their user’s personal information with companies, organizations or individuals outside of Google when they have their user’s consent to  do so.
• Google provide their user’s personal information to their affiliates to process the collected information for them.

Share with Law Enforcement Agency

According to Google – They share personal information with companies, organizations or individuals outside of Google if they
(in good-faith) belief that access, use, preservation or disclosure of the information is reasonably necessary to:

• Meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process or enforceable governmental request.
• Enforce applicable Terms of Service, including investigation of potential violations.
• Detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues.
• Protect against harm to the rights, property or safety of Google, our users or the public as required or permitted by law.

Google’s Warranties and Liabilities

Google provide their services using a commercially reasonable level of skill and care. But there are certain things that they don’t promise about their Services. They will not be responsible for lost profits, revenues, or data, financial losses or indirect, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages.

We are giving away so much our personal information to get free information every day to Google and other search engines. Google’s sophisticated algorithm now knows more about us, then what we know about our self. I guess this also makes us a resource and at the same time product of Google.

Writer – Rubayat M.