I think, by now, most people know that Google collects data from their accounts. From browsing to sending emails, Google’s all-seeing eye is constantly scanning you for more data. The company makes its money from data and advertising. Things like the Google Pixel and Pixel Tablet are simply other ways to collect data. Selling hardware is a loss-leader for Google.
Data is the reason Google makes multi-million dollar deals with Samsung and Apple to be the default browser on their smartphones. Considering most users use the default browser, this is a solid investment for Google.
But what data does Google exactly collect? Well, I think it would be impossible to get an exact list, but the list below is a good start to understanding how broad the company’s data collecting habits really are.
YOU Are The Product
Personal Information:
Name
Email address
Phone number
Date of birth
Gender
Location (based on IP address, GPS, or device location)
Account Information:
Account creation date
Account login history
Account security settings
User preferences
Search and Browsing Data:
Search queries
Websites visited
Click-through rates
Time spent on pages
Browser history
Device Information:
Operating system
Browser type and version
Device model and manufacturer
Device identifiers (IMEI, MEID, or serial number)
Mobile network information
Location Data:
GPS location
Wi-Fi access points
Cell towers
Bluetooth beacons
App Usage:
Installed apps
App usage frequency
App permissions
Contacts:
Names and contact information of users' contacts (if shared)
Calendar Data:
Event titles
Event dates and times
Event locations
Event attendees
Google Services Usage:
Google Drive files and folders
Google Photos
Google Maps history
YouTube watch history
Google Play Store purchases and downloads
Advertising Data:
User interests and preferences
Ad click and conversion data
Ad interactions
Ad performance data
Third-Party Data:
Data from third-party websites or apps that use Google services
Data from social media platforms and other sources that are linked to a user's Google account
Voice and Audio Data:
Voice commands and queries
Audio recordings from Google Assistant or other voice-enabled services
Video recordings from Google Assistant-enabled video devices
Payment Information:
Credit or debit card information
Payment history
Subscription information
This is a shortlist of the sorts of data that Google collects on its registered users. The crazy part is that, even if you’re not registered with Google, the company still collects data on you. It’s even possible for Google to collect data on people connected to its users. Data collection is Google’s bread and butter and it is what has funded their growth. So don’t expect it to stop any time soon.