Old version
April 19, 2026 06:03 UTC
c218a556b60a30e05b8cb088bb0e79633b2f12d03691d7541d3f8d5cdafcb5a2
CA-V-001849
New version
May 27, 2026 01:17 UTC
2b4ae5b8b59222ac81fb6587464cac7a3eca362835c4980308135c241d40c088
CA-V-003017
Share 𝕏 Share in Share
Change Summary
YouTube Ads updated its Google Privacy Policy on May 27, 2026, clarifying and expanding descriptions of how data is collected and used. The policy now explicitly states that Google collects data not associated with user accounts (previously only implied), adds media files to the list of collected activity types, and refines language describing how activity data is saved to user histories. The policy also introduces examples of which Google services store activity to specific history categories (Search Services History, Web & App Activity). These changes primarily clarify existing practices rather than introducing fundamentally new data collection or usage, though they make explicit what was previously described in general terms.
low severity
8 Sentences added
7 Sentences removed
23 Sentences modified
362 Sentences before
363 Sentences after
Added
Removed
Modified
BeforeAfter
4Take the Privacy Checkup Effective April 2, 2026 | Archived versions | Download PDF Contents Introduction Information Google collects Why Google collects data Your privacy controls Sharing your information Keeping your information secure Exporting & deleting your information Retaining your information Compliance & cooperation with regulators About this policy Related privacy practices We build a range of services that help millions of people daily to explore and interact with the world in new ways.4Take the Privacy Checkup Effective May 26, 2026 | Archived versions | Download PDF Contents Introduction Information Google collects Why Google collects data Your privacy controls Sharing your information Keeping your information secure Exporting & deleting your information Retaining your information Compliance & cooperation with regulators About this policy Related privacy practices We build a range of services that help millions of people daily to explore and interact with the world in new ways.
9And across our services, you can adjust your privacy settings to control whether we collect some types of data and how we use it.9And across our services, you can adjust your privacy settings (like history and personalization controls) to make choices about whether we save some types of data to your Google account and how we use it.
14When you’re not signed in to a Google Account, we store the information we collect with unique identifiers tied to the browser, application, or device you’re using.14Google also collects and uses data that is not associated with your account.
15For example, when you’re not signed in to a Google Account, we store the information we collect with unique identifiers tied to the browser, application, or device you’re using.
29The activity information we collect may include: Terms you search for Videos you watch Views and interactions with content and ads Voice and audio information Purchase activity People with whom you communicate or share content Activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services Chrome browsing history you’ve synced with your Google Account If you use our services to make and receive calls or send and receive messages , we may collect call and message log information like your phone number, calling-party number, receiving-party number, forwarding numbers, sender and recipient email address, time and date of calls and messages, duration of calls, routing information, and types and volumes of calls and messages.30The activity information we collect may include: Terms you search for Videos you watch Views and interactions with content and ads Media (like images, files, audio and video) from your interactions Purchase activity People with whom you communicate or share content Activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services Chrome browsing history you’ve synced with your Google Account If you use our services to make and receive calls or send and receive messages , we may collect call and message log information like your phone number, calling-party number, receiving-party number, forwarding numbers, sender and recipient email address, time and date of calls and messages, duration of calls, routing information, and types and volumes of calls and messages.
30You can visit your Google Account to find and manage activity information that’s saved by your activity controls.31You can visit your Google Account to find and manage activity information that’s saved in your history.
36And if your Web & App Activity setting is enabled, your searches and other activity from Google services, which may also include location information, is saved to your Google Account.37Depending on your settings, your searches and other activity from Google services, which may also include location information, are saved as history to your Google Account.
38For example, activity from services like Search, Maps, and Shopping is saved to Search Services History, and your activity on some other Google sites and apps is saved to Web & App Activity.
48Provide personalized services, including content and ads We use the information we collect to customize our services for you, including providing recommendations, personalized content, and customized search results .50Provide personalized services, including content and ads We use the information we collect to tailor our services for you, including providing customized and personalized experiences and recommendations, including things like content, and search results .
70We use automated systems that analyze your content to provide you with things like customized search results, personalized ads, or other features tailored to how you use our services.72We use automated systems that analyze your content to provide you with things like tailored search results, personalized ads, or other features tailored to how you use our services.
86Your Google Account includes: Privacy controls Activity Controls Decide what types of activity you’d like saved in your account.88Your Google Account includes: Privacy controls Personalization and Activity Controls Across many of our services, you can adjust history and personalization controls to make choices about whether we save some types of data in your Google Account and how we use it to personalize your experience.
88And if you have Web & App Activity turned on, your searches and activity from other Google services are saved in your account so you can get more personalized experiences like faster searches and more helpful app and content recommendations.90Saving activity from services like Search, Maps, and Shopping to your Search Services History lets you do things like resume an AI Mode interaction where you left off or see past searches as Autocomplete suggestions.
89Web & App Activity also has a subsetting that lets you control whether some information about your activity on other sites, apps, and devices that use Google services , such as apps you install and use on Android, is saved in your Google Account and used to improve Google services.91When Personalized Recommendations in Search services is on, these services can provide results, curated feeds, and AI responses that are personalized to you based on info in your Google Account, including Search Services History.
90Go to Activity Controls Ad settings Manage your preferences about the ads shown to you on Google and on sites and apps that partner with Google to show ads.92And if you have Web & App Activity turned on, your activity from some other Google services are saved in your account so you can get more personalized experiences.
93Web & App Activity also has a subsetting that lets you control whether some information about your activity on other sites, apps, and devices that use Google services is saved with Web & App Activity in your Google Account and used to improve Google services.
94Go to My Activity and Personalization Settings Ad settings Manage your preferences about the ads shown to you on Google and on sites and apps that partner with Google to show ads.
99Go to Personal Info When you’re signed out, you can manage information associated with your browser or device, including: Signed-out search personalization: Choose whether your search activity is used to offer you more relevant results and recommendations.103Go to Personal Info When you’re signed out, you can manage information associated with your browser or device, including: Signed-out search customization : Choose whether your search activity is used to offer you more relevant results and recommendations.
191Audio, electronic, visual, and similar information , such as voice and audio information .195Audio, electronic, visual, and similar information , including media (like images, files, audio and video) from your interactions Communications data , such as emails, if you use our services to send and receive messages .
192Communications data , such as emails, if you use our services to send and receive messages .Removed
275Additional Context Activity on Google Services If you’re signed in to your Google Account and have Web & App Activity turned on, your activity data on Google sites, apps, and services may be saved in your account’s Web & App Activity.278Additional Context Activity on Google Services For example, if you’re signed in to your Google Account and have Search Services History or Web & App Activity turned on, your activity data on Google sites, apps, and services that use those settings may be saved as history in your Google Account.
279In some cases, areas that you have searched from in the past may be used to estimate a relevant location for your search.282In some cases, depending on your personalization settings like Personalized Recommendations in Search services, areas that you have searched from in the past may be used to estimate a relevant location for your search.
281You can view and control your Web & App Activity at My Activity . activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services Websites and apps that integrate Google services like ads and analytics share information with us.284You can view and control your Search Services History and Web & App Activity at My Activity . activity on third-party sites and apps that use our services Websites and apps that integrate Google services like ads and analytics share information with us.
289Learn more about Google Play Services . customized search results For example, when you’re signed in to your Google Account and have the Web & App Activity control enabled, you can get more relevant search results that are based on your previous searches and activity from other Google services.292Learn more about Google Play Services . deliver our services Examples of how we use your information to deliver our services include: We use the IP address assigned to your device to send you the data you requested, such as loading a YouTube video We use unique identifiers stored in cookies on your device to help us authenticate you as the person who should have access to your Google Account Photos and videos you upload to Google Photos are used to help you create albums, collages, and other creations that you can share.
290You can learn more here .Removed
291You may also get customized search results even when you’re signed out.Removed
292If you don’t want this level of search customization, you can search and browse privately or turn off signed-out search personalization . deliver our services Examples of how we use your information to deliver our services include: We use the IP address assigned to your device to send you the data you requested, such as loading a YouTube video We use unique identifiers stored in cookies on your device to help us authenticate you as the person who should have access to your Google Account Photos and videos you upload to Google Photos are used to help you create albums, collages, and other creations that you can share.Removed
310Learn more our users For example, to prevent abuse and increase transparency and accountability over our online content moderation practices, Google shares data about requests for removal of content from our services with Lumen, which collects and analyzes these requests to facilitate research to help Internet users understand their rights.310Learn more Media (like images, files, audio and video) from your interactions For example, you can interact with many Google services using your device’s microphone or camera, or by uploading multimedia like files, images, screenshots, audio, and video.
311When your device detects an audio activation command, like “Hey Google,” Google records your voice and audio plus a few seconds before the activation. our users For example, to prevent abuse and increase transparency and accountability over our online content moderation practices, Google shares data about requests for removal of content from our services with Lumen, which collects and analyzes these requests to facilitate research to help Internet users understand their rights.
330Learn more sensitive categories When showing you personalized ads, we use topics that we think might be of interest to you based on your activity.331Learn more search results For example, when you’re signed in to your Google Account and have the Personalized Recommendations in Search services control enabled, you can get more relevant search results that are based on your previous searches and activity from other Google services.
332Learn more about Personalized Recommendations in Search services .
333You may also get customized search results even when you’re signed out.
334If you don’t want this level of search customization, you can search and browse privately or turn off signed-out search customization . sensitive categories When showing you personalized ads, we use topics that we think might be of interest to you based on your activity.
346Learn more If you have communicated with someone via Gmail and want to add them to a Google Doc or an event in Google Calendar, Google makes it easy to do so by autocompleting their email address when you start to type in their name.350If you have communicated with someone via Gmail and want to add them to a Google Doc or an event in Google Calendar, Google makes it easy to do so by autocompleting their email address when you start to type in their name.
349For example, if you have searches stored in your Web & App Activity, the Google app can show you news articles and other information about your interests, like sports scores, based on your activity.353For example, if you have searches stored in your Search Services History and have turned on your Personalized Recommendations in Search services setting, the Google app can show you news articles and other information about your interests, like sports scores, based on your activity.
354We may also measure other interactions, such as how you move your mouse over an ad or if you interact with the page on which the ad appears.358We may also measure other interactions, such as how you move your mouse over an ad or if you interact with the page on which the ad appears. your activity on other sites and apps This activity might come from your use of Google services, like from syncing your account with Chrome or your visits to sites and apps that partner with Google.
355Voice and audio information For example, you can choose whether you want Google to save an audio recording to your Google Account when you interact with Google Search, Assistant, and Maps.Removed
356When your device detects an audio activation command, like “Hey Google,” Google records your voice and audio plus a few seconds before the activation.Removed
357Learn more your activity on other sites and apps This activity might come from your use of Google services, like from syncing your account with Chrome or your visits to sites and apps that partner with Google.Removed
Watch this before it changes again

Follow unlimited companies, monitor the clauses that matter across every platform, and get the full institutional analysis on what each change obligates you to do.