Google Now Auto-Deletes Search and Location Data after 18 Months

[engine]

Google has said it's changing the data retention of user search and location history, voice and YouTube activity after 18-months for new users, and 18-months when an existing user turns on location history.

If you’ve already had Location History and Web & App Activity turned on, we won’t be changing your settings. But we will actively remind you about the auto-delete controls through in-product notifications and emails, so you can choose the auto-delete setting that works for you.

[blog.google...]

Google is also changing privacy and it says, improving access to privacy checkup, easier access to incognito mode.

[PaulCollins]

Google has said it's changing the data retention of user search and location history, voice and YouTube activity after 18-months for new users, and 18-months when an existing user turns on location history.

If you’ve already had Location History and Web & App Activity turned on, we won’t be changing your settings. But we will actively remind you about the auto-delete controls through in-product notifications and emails, so you can choose the auto-delete setting that works for you.



[blog.google...]

Google is also changing privacy and it says, improving access to privacy checkup, easier access to incognito mode.

Old data is likely not very useful for google. They don’t really care to target an ad based on something you did years ago. They want to target based on things you do currently. So this makes sense for everyone.

<snip>

[edited by: engine at 2:43 pm (utc) on Jun 25, 2020]
[edit reason] Please see WebmasterWorld TOS [/edit]

[tangor]

Wondering if this will apply to historical snapshot backups as well?

(I can't imagine anyone who lives by data will ever give it up)

Interesting report!