In the News
Google continues to produce features aimed at increasing user control over data storage. In Google now lets you auto-delete your app activity, location and web history, Frederic Lardinois at TechCrunch discusses the ability for Google users to decide how long Google can store their location and browsing data before it gets deleted. Lardinois explains that users can opt to have their data deleted after 3 or 18 months, but clarifies that having data deleted within a shorter time frame can lead to a less personalized browsing experience. Lardinois states that users have been able to reduce the data that Google stores from them for a while, but that the settings had to be manually set.
Our Take
Having a constant connection to the internet or a smart device creates an extensive trail of data for every user. While companies tend to store and collect data to personalize your experience on a browser, app, or social media platform, understanding just how much of your data is stored by companies can be alarming. Manually enabling privacy settings has historically been the best option to restrict the amount of data that can be collected from your actions. However, the use of privacy settings has not become as wide-spread as one would think because it often is a complicated process or not well advertised. Google’s decision to allow for data deletion on a certain time cycle is good news for the consumer skeptical about how much data is being collected about them but hasn’t enabled all of the available privacy settings. As more and more of our lives become digitalized, reducing the amount of personal data stored outside of our control will become more and more crucial.
Recommendations
How can you protect the privacy of your data?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Use safe password practices, and take advantage of Multi-factor Authentication where possible
- Utilize additional security/privacy measures and settings on apps, accounts, and platforms whenever possible
- Understand the legal rights and practices of companies that store your data