In this article I show exactly how much Google knows about me! You're probably gonna be scared!
To figure out how much Google knows, I went to takeout.google.com So let's say that this is the same thing as that. There it goes. 2 Days to Google to clarify the files that I could download. Google has saved 27GB with data on me- What? 27 GB corresponds to 135 hours of continuous video streaming or approximately 90 000 books. That's a lot of information!
I have been using Google since 2001 and I have been a pretty heavy user of several Google services. I use Google.no (search engine), Gmail(e-mail), Google Maps(map). In addition, I use Google calendar, Google docs(document management), Google photos(image service) and a number of other services.
A folder for each Google product
When you download your file from Google, you will be given access to a folder structure with information about your activities in all Google services. If you want to check your stored activities at Google, visit «My Activities‘.
Google has a folder for my activity in each Google product I've used.
Below I'm going to review examples of what Google knows about me.
1.Google knows who I am and what I am interested in.
Google stores an ad profile based on everything they know about you. They know where you are, what sex you are, age, hobbies, careers, interests, civil status, weight and income. View your own ad profileSo let's say that this is the same thing as that.
The above boxes show which areas of interest Google has stored about me.
2.Google knows where I am (and where I have been since 2006)
Google stores your location and you can see a timeline with all the places you've been since you started using Google on your phone. If you have an Android phone or a user of Google Maps or another Google product on your iPhone, Google will track your movements. Google knows where I've been since November 2006. See map of where you have been
The red dots show all the places I've been in Oslo since 2006
3.Google knows what I'm looking for (all since 2005)
Google stores your search history across devices in a separate database. Google knows I was looking for "flavour problems" 28. January 2008 and they know I was looking for Sandvika Storortenter 11. November 2005, Even if you delete your search history on your phone, everything will be stored at Google anyway. View your own search log
The above image shows how Google stores searches I performed in 2005
4.Google stores what I see on Youtube
Google stores information about everything you are looking for and everything you see on Youtube. They know if you're expecting children, what religious beliefs you have and what political party you support. Google knows if you are depressed, whether you are considering suicide or whether you have eating. View your Youtube log
Google stores what I have been looking for and what I have been looking for on Youtube
5.Google stores which ads I have clicked on
Over 90% of Google's revenues come from adsSo let's say that this is the same thing as that. I've clicked on many ads over time and Google's stored every click. Information about what I am interested in, in my wrong hands, can easily be used by commercial or political actors to influence me. View your ad profileSo let's say that this is the same thing as that.
6.Google stores the images I take
A couple of years ago, I started using Google PhotosSo let's say that this is the same thing as that. The advantage is that all the images I take on the phone are automatically stored in Google photos and deleted locally on my phone so that I save the storage space. The disadvantage is that all my images are at Google and there is a risk that unauthorized people will access my photos.
All my photos are stored at Google to save space on my mobile phone
7.Google saves who I meet
I use Google Calendar to organise the everyday life. All information about who I meet and where I meet them is stored automatically by Google and sinks across all my devices. Simple, but what can Google use that information for?
8.Google stores who I communicate with
Since I am an active user of both Google Hangouts and Gmail, I guess Google stores who I communicate with and what I send/ receive by e-mail. To my surprise, Gmail data was not included in the file I downloaded from takeout.google.com.
Nine. Google stores visited websites
My favorite reader is Google Chrome. It's fast and efficient. I knew that Google stored information about me, but I was unsure whether all of the information was organised and used by Google for research or to make my Google experience optimal.
Google stores the URL and time of all my browsing activities in Chrome
Ten. Google stores documents I've saved
I use Google Driver and Google Docs and store documents in the cloud. This means that Google has access to a lot of information about me privately and what I work with.
Is it okay that Google and Facebook store so much information?
Is it okay that Google and Facebook store so much information about me? I don't know. On the one hand, these actors offer useful and valuable services. On the other hand have Cambridge Analytica case show us how dangerous it can be if you are not allowed to access personal information. It's my choice to delete all the information Google and Facebook stores about me. At the same time, I know that most people are unaware of personal data and I believe that the new GDPR legislation(see short video about GDPR) will help to increase the focus on the importance of personal data. What do you think? What is the best case scenario? What is worst case scenario?
Is smart use of personal data the reason Trump became president of the United States?
List of all Google products (thank you for Geir Ellefsen)
Google History About Me
How far back in time Google's archives go. Check your Google activities on ‘my activities‘.
Here's a list of how far back Google has information about me:
- Google search history back to July 2005
- Google Photo Search Back to July 2005
- Google maps back to November 2006
- Google ads back to February 2007
- Google books back to September 2008
- Google news back to November 2005
- Google shopping back to March 2006
- Google Video Search Back to June 2006
- Google Youtube back to March 2011
Do you want to learn more about Google and keyword analysis- What?