Google holds a massive 15 exabytes of data in their servers, including data about you. An article from The Telegraph, a leading British newspaper explains what information is held under your name. Google might be a trusted company, but the data they have against you contains everything about you and your personal life, which can be very unsettling.
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| Source: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/ |
In a single Google account, there is a lot of information stored about that account holder. To begin, Google has your email address and phone number associated with your account. More shockingly, Google has access to “all the data stored under your searching and browsing history, the locations you've been, any information sent from your devices, voice searches and videos you've searched for and watched on YouTube” (Williams). Google basically has the ability to get an insight of your life. Your browsing history will always be in there hands, no matter if you clear it. Google Maps can tell where you have visited, for example; shopping, visiting family or friends, frequent locations, etc. Even if you don't have your billing address in Google, they can tell where you live by your most frequent location. If you use Gmail, they have every single email sent and received, which contain plans, appointments, confidential information, and basically any other email attached to your account. Also, if you use any of their services such as Google Wallet or Google Docs, they can see all of that too. On smartphones, Google Wallet has the ability to use the fingerprint scanner, so if you choose to use that feature, Google also now has your fingerprints.
However, Google claims they do not use this information in any way to invade your privacy. They say the information the collect on you is simply just to make their services better: to make it a more personalized experience. In fact, they try to protect you by using your behavioral patterns to track suspicious activity: not selling your information at all. For example; for searches on Google and Google Maps, this information is used to give you suggestions based on you. But, do you feel safe with a company having every bit of information on you? If Google's servers were ever to be attacked, how would you feel if this information was in the wrong hands?
Future Question: Does Google have a history of doing shady things?
Future Question: Does Google have a history of doing shady things?
