Google Privacy Policy
20150701_rev01 · COMPARED WITH 20150501_rev01 · ARCHIVE SNAPSHOT, DATE APPROXIMATE
Full text changes — 20150501_rev01 to 20150701_rev01
| 1 | [Download PDF version](https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/google_privacy_policy_en.pdf) | |
| 2 | ||
| 3 | 1 | There are many different ways you can use our services - to search for and share information, to communicate with other people or to create new content. When you share information with us, for example by creating a [Google Account](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/), we can make those services even better - to show you [more relevant search results](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/more-relevant-search-results.html) and ads, to help you [connect with people](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/connect-with-people.html) or to make [sharing with others quicker and easier](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/sharing-with-others.html). As you use our services, we want you to be clear how we're using information and the ways in which you can protect your privacy. |
| 4 | 2 | |
| 5 | 3 | Our Privacy Policy explains: |
| 6 | 4 | |
| 7 | 5 | - What information we collect and why we collect it. |
| 8 | 6 | - How we use that information. |
| 9 | 7 | - The choices we offer, including how to access and update information. |
| 10 | 8 | |
| 11 | We've tried to keep it as simple as possible, but if you're not familiar with terms like cookies, IP addresses, pixel tags and browsers, then read about these [key terms](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/) first. Your privacy matters to Google so whether you are new to Google or a long-time user, please do take the time to get to know our practices - and if you have any questions [consult this page](http://support.google.com/policies/troubleshooter/2990837). | |
| 9 | We've tried to keep it as simple as possible, but if you're not familiar with terms like cookies, IP addresses, pixel tags and browsers, then read about these [key terms](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/) first. Your privacy matters to Google so whether you are new to Google or a long-time user, please do take the time to get to know our practices - and if you have any questions [contact us](https://support.google.com/policies/troubleshooter/2990837). | |
| 12 | 10 | |
| 13 | 11 | ## Information we collect |
| 14 | 12 | |
| 15 | 13 | We collect information to provide better services to all of our users - from figuring out basic stuff like which language you speak, to more complex things like which [ads you'll find most useful](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/ads-youll-find-most-useful.html), [the people who matter most to you online](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/the-people-who-matter-most.html), or which YouTube videos you might like. |
| 16 | 14 | |
| 17 | We collect information in two ways: | |
| 15 | We collect information in the following ways: | |
| 18 | 16 | |
| 19 | - **Information you give us.** For example, many of our services require you to sign up for a Google Account. When you do, we'll ask for [personal information](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/), like your name, email address, telephone number or [credit card](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/credit-card.html). If you want to take full advantage of the sharing features we offer, we might also ask you to create a publicly visible [Google Profile](http://support.google.com/accounts/bin/answer.py), which may include your name and photo. | |
| 17 | - **Information you give us.** For example, many of our services require you to sign up for a Google Account. When you do, we'll ask for [personal information](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/), like your name, email address, telephone number or [credit card](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/credit-card.html) to store with your account. If you want to take full advantage of the sharing features we offer, we might also ask you to create a publicly visible [Google Profile](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/112783), which may include your name and photo. | |
| 20 | 18 | |
| 21 | - **Information we get from your use of our services.** We [collect information](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/collect-information.html) about the services that you use and how you use them, like when you watch a video on YouTube, visit a website that uses our advertising services, or you [view and interact with our ads](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/view-and-interact-with-our-ads.html) and content. This information includes: | |
| 19 | - **Information we get from your use of our services.** We [collect information](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/collect-information.html) about the services that you use and how you use them, like when you watch a video on YouTube, visit a website that uses our advertising services, or [view and interact with our ads](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/view-and-interact-with-our-ads.html) and content. This information includes: | |
| 22 | 20 | |
| 23 | 21 | - **[Device information](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/)** |
| 24 | 22 | |
| 25 | 23 | We collect [device-specific information](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/device-specific-information.html) (such as your hardware model, operating system version, [unique device identifiers](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/), and mobile network information including phone number). Google may associate your [device identifiers](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/device-identifiers.html) or [phone number](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/phone-number.html) with your Google Account. |
| 26 | 24 | |
| 27 | 25 | - **Log information** |
| 42 | 40 | Certain services include a unique application number. This number and information about your installation (for example, the operating system type and application version number) may be sent to Google when you install or uninstall that service or when that service periodically contacts our servers, such as for automatic updates. |
| 43 | 41 | |
| 44 | 42 | - **Local storage** |
| 45 | 43 | |
| 46 | 44 | We may collect and store information (including personal information) locally on your device using mechanisms such as [browser web storage](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/) (including HTML 5) and [application data caches](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/). |
| 47 | 45 | |
| 48 | - **Cookies and anonymous identifiers** | |
| 46 | - **Cookies and similar technologies** | |
| 49 | 47 | |
| 50 | We [and our partners](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/our-partners.html) use various technologies to collect and store information when you visit a Google service, and this may include sending one or more [cookies](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/) or [anonymous identifiers](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/) to your device. We also use cookies and anonymous identifiers when you interact with services we offer to our partners, such as [advertising services](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/advertising-services.html) or Google features that may appear on other sites. Our Google Analytics product helps businesses and site owners analyze the traffic to their websites and apps. When used in conjunction with our advertising services, such as those using the DoubleClick cookie, Google Analytics information is [linked, using Google technology, with information about visits to multiple sites](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/linked-with-information-about-visits-to-multiple-sites.html). | |
| 48 | We [and our partners](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/our-partners.html) use various technologies to collect and store information when you visit a Google service, and this may include using [cookies or similar technologies](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/) to identify your browser or device. We also use these technologies to collect and store information when you interact with services we offer to our partners, such as [advertising services](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/advertising-services.html) or Google features that may appear on other sites. Our Google Analytics product helps businesses and site owners analyze the traffic to their websites and apps. When used in conjunction with our advertising services, such as those using the DoubleClick cookie, Google Analytics information is [linked, by the Google Analytics customer or by Google, using Google technology, with information about visits to multiple sites](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/linked-with-information-about-visits-to-multiple-sites.html). | |
| 51 | 49 | |
| 50 | Information we collect when you are signed in to Google may be associated with your Google Account. When information is associated with your Google Account, we treat it as personal information. For more information about how you can access, manage or delete information that is associated with your Google Account, visit the [Transparency and choice]() section of this policy. | |
| 51 | ||
| 52 | 52 | ## How we use information we collect |
| 53 | 53 | |
| 54 | We use the information we collect from all of our services to provide, maintain, protect and improve them, to [develop new ones](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/develop-new-ones.html), and to [protect Google and our users](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/protect-google-and-our-users.html). We also use this information to offer you tailored content - like giving you more relevant search results and ads. | |
| 54 | We use the information we collect from all of our services to [provide](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/provide-services.html), [maintain](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/maintain-services.html), [protect](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/protect-services.html) and improve them, to [develop new ones](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/develop-new-ones.html), and to [protect Google and our users](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/protect-google-and-our-users.html). We also use this information to offer you tailored content - like giving you more relevant search results and ads. | |
| 55 | 55 | |
| 56 | 56 | We may use the name you provide for your Google Profile across all of the services we offer that require a Google Account. In addition, we may replace past names associated with your Google Account so that you are represented consistently across all our services. If other users already have your email, or other information that identifies you, we may show them your publicly visible Google Profile information, such as your name and photo. |
| 57 | 57 | |
| 58 | 58 | If you have a Google Account, we may display your Profile name, Profile photo, and actions you take on Google or on third-party applications connected to your Google Account (such as +1's, reviews you write and comments you post) in our services, including displaying in ads and other commercial contexts. We will respect the choices you make to [limit sharing or visibility settings](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/limit-sharing-or-visibility-settings.html) in your Google Account. |
| 59 | 59 | |
| 60 | 60 | When you contact Google, we keep a record of your communication to help solve any issues you might be facing. We may use your email address to inform you about our services, such as letting you know about upcoming changes or improvements. |
| 100 | 100 | - **With your consent** |
| 101 | 101 | |
| 102 | 102 | We will share personal information with companies, organizations or individuals outside of Google when we have your consent to do so. We require opt-in consent for the sharing of any [sensitive personal information](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/key-terms/). |
| 103 | 103 | |
| 104 | 104 | - **With domain administrators** |
| 105 | 105 | |
| 106 | If your Google Account is managed for you by a [domain administrator](http://support.google.com/a/bin/answer.py) (for example, for Google Apps users) then your domain administrator and resellers who provide user support to your organization will have access to your Google Account information (including your email and other data). Your domain administrator may be able to: | |
| 106 | If your Google Account is managed for you by a [domain administrator](https://support.google.com/a/answer/178897) (for example, for Google Apps users) then your domain administrator and resellers who provide user support to your organization will have access to your Google Account information (including your email and other data). Your domain administrator may be able to: | |
| 107 | 107 | |
| 108 | 108 | - view statistics regarding your account, like statistics regarding applications you install. |
| 109 | 109 | - change your account password. |
| 110 | 110 | - suspend or terminate your account access. |
| 111 | 111 | - access or retain information stored as part of your account. |
| 112 | 112 | - receive your account information in order to satisfy applicable law, regulation, [legal process or enforceable governmental request](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/example/legal-process.html). |
| 132 | 132 | If Google is involved in a merger, acquisition or asset sale, we will continue to ensure the confidentiality of any personal information and give affected users notice before personal information is transferred or becomes subject to a different privacy policy. |
| 133 | 133 | |
| 134 | 134 | ## Information security |
| 135 | 135 | |
| 136 | 136 | We work hard to protect Google and our users from unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of information we hold. In particular: |
| 137 | 137 | |
| 138 | - We encrypt many of our services [using SSL](http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py). | |
| 138 | - We encrypt many of our services [using SSL](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/173733). | |
| 139 | 139 | - We offer you [two step verification](https://www.google.com/intl/en/landing/2step/) when you access your Google Account, and a [Safe Browsing feature](http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/more/security.html) in Google Chrome. |
| 140 | 140 | - We review our information collection, storage and processing practices, including physical security measures, to guard against unauthorized access to systems. |
| 141 | 141 | - We restrict access to personal information to Google employees, contractors and agents who need to know that information in order to process it for us, and who are subject to strict contractual confidentiality obligations and may be disciplined or terminated if they fail to meet these obligations. |
| 142 | 142 | |
| 143 | 143 | ## When this Privacy Policy applies |
| 144 | 144 | |
| 157 | 157 | ## Specific product practices |
| 158 | 158 | |
| 159 | 159 | The following notices explain specific privacy practices with respect to certain Google products and services that you may use: |
| 160 | 160 | |
| 161 | 161 | - [Chrome and Chrome OS](http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/privacy.html) |
| 162 | 162 | - [Books](http://books.google.com/intl/en/googlebooks/privacy.html) |
| 163 | - [Wallet](http://wallet.google.com/files/privacy.html) | |
| 163 | - [Payments](http://wallet.google.com/files/privacy.html) | |
| 164 | 164 | - [Fiber](https://fiber.google.com/legal/privacy.html) |
| 165 | 165 | |
| 166 | 166 | For more information about some of our most popular services, you can visit the [Google Product Privacy Guide](https://www.google.com/policies/technologies/product-privacy/). |
| 167 | 167 | |
| 168 | 168 | Further useful privacy and security related materials can be found through Google's [policies and principles pages](https://www.google.com/policies/), including: |
| 169 | 169 | |
| 170 | 170 | - Information about our [technologies and principles](https://www.google.com/policies/technologies/), which includes, among other things, more information on |
| 171 | 171 | - [how Google uses cookies](https://www.google.com/policies/technologies/cookies/). |
| 172 | 172 | - technologies we use for [advertising](https://www.google.com/policies/technologies/ads/). |
| 173 | 173 | - how we [recognize patterns like faces](https://www.google.com/policies/technologies/pattern-recognition/). |
| 174 | 174 | - A [page](https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/) that explains what data is shared with Google when you visit websites that use our advertising, analytics and social products. |
| 175 | 175 | - Google's [safety center](https://www.google.com/intl/en/safetycenter/), which provides information on how to stay safe and secure online. |
| 176 | ||
| 177 | #### Example | |
| 178 | ||
| 179 | ## "maintain" | |
| 180 | ||
| 181 | For example, we continuously monitor our systems to check that they are working as intended and in order to detect and fix errors. |