Categories: Info Tech

Google Now Auto-Deleting Data For New Users In Bid To Tighten Privacy Settings

In this file photo taken on October 4, 2017 Sundar Pichai, chief executive officer of Google Inc., speaks about Google’s improvements in Artificial Intelligence and machine learning at a product launch event, October 4, 2017 at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, California. Elijah Nouvelage / AFP

 

Google has begun auto-deleting new users’ search data and location history on a rolling 18-month basis, CEO Sundar Pichai announced, as the tech giant moves to tighten privacy settings.

The tweak was introduced Wednesday and is the latest attempt by a big online firm to boost public trust after hefty fines were levied against Facebook and Google for privacy violations in recent years.

“We believe that products should keep your information for only as long as it’s useful and helpful to you,” Pichai said in a blog post, adding that the changes were designed to “keep less data by default.”

When creating a new Google account, “your activity data will be automatically and continuously deleted after 18 months, rather than kept until you choose to delete it,” he explained.

Current users can already opt in to auto-delete their data every three or 18 months — a setting that has not changed, although existing users will be reminded of the option to do so.

Smartphone location technology has been in the spotlight as governments study or implement app-based initiatives to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, despite concerns over privacy and civil liberties.

Pinchai, also head of Google’s parent company Alphabet, asserted that “privacy is at the heart of everything we do” in his blog post.

He detailed other changes including easier access to privacy settings within apps and to the more secure “incognito” mode.

New users of Google’s subsidiary YouTube will also have their search data auto-deleted after 36 months, Pinchai said.

 

AFP

Solomon Elusoji

Disqus Comments Loading...
Share
Published by
Solomon Elusoji

Recent Posts

Six Enugu Assembly LP Members Defect To PDP

Those who defected are Ejike Eze, (Igbo-Eze North 1);  Johnson Ugwu (Enugu North) Princess Ugwu…

23 mins ago

LP’s BoT Takes Over Party, Insists Abure’s Tenure Has Expired

The LP and the NLC have been at loggerheads recently, with the latter accusing the…

34 mins ago

Alleged Fraud: FCT Court Discharges, Acquits Adoke In OPL 245 Trial

Justice Kutigi said the EFCC failed to prove its charges of fraud, bribery and money…

2 hours ago

Eniola Ajao Dumps Bobrisky As Best-Dressed, Announces New Winners With ₦1m Gift

Although Eniola had since apologised for the stunt gone wrong, she took to her social…

2 hours ago

NUJ, IPI, NGE Call On Tinubu To ‘Punish’ Those Behind Olatunji’s Detention

Olatunji was arrested in his Abule Egba residence in Lagos State in mid-March with his…

2 hours ago

Troops Neutralize Terrorists, Recover Arms, Rustled Cattle In Borno, Katsina

Military authorities say the troops are still sustaining offensive operations to clear terrorists in the…

2 hours ago