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Google reveals major privacy shake-up, will auto-delete user data
According to a new blog post, Google will now automatically delete users’ search information, location data and voice commands after 18 months has elapsed since capture.
YouTube activity, meanwhile, will be kept on file for 36 months by default, which Google says will ensure viewers are served the most relevant content.
[...] The company’s auto-delete controls have been in place since last year, but will now be turned on by default for new users. Existing Google Account holders, though, will need to manually activate the auto-delete function from with the Activity Controls panel.
[...] The firm also took the opportunity to unveil a host of smaller changes designed to make it easier for users to access privacy controls and improve account security.
[...] Within the coming weeks, Google’s Password Checkup tool will also be integrated into the Security Checkup service, which notifies users of chinks in their security armor. The addition will allow account holders to check whether any of their login credentials have been compromised and safeguard against potential credential-stuffing attacks.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 26 2020, @01:33AM (1 child)
Another thing that most companies realize is *old* data is a liability.
Let say you have a jr employee and they say something in email. Then spin 10 years on they are head of a division. Then someone comes along and subpoenas everything you know about that employee. Suddenly something that employee said 10 years ago becomes relevant. It can and will be used out of context.
Cancel culture depends on it. On the flip side those who want the power to spit off whatever they feel like love the idea that their old ideas are never heard from again and accountability is for others. They can float with the crowd and look amazing doing it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 26 2020, @01:50AM
I would say more than liability, old data is not so useful for new advertising purposes, and takes up space on their servers.