This provision requires Google, at the advertiser's election, to delete or return all advertiser personal data upon termination of the relevant Google Ads services, unless applicable law requires Google to retain the data.
This analysis describes what Google Ads's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This clause governs the disposition of advertiser personal data at the end of the service relationship, implementing the GDPR Article 28(3)(g) requirement. Advertisers should understand the procedures for exercising this right and confirm what data categories are covered, including data stored in Google's ad serving and reporting infrastructure.
Interpretive note: The practical procedure for exercising the deletion or return right and the timeline for Google's compliance are not specified in the clause text available; advertisers should consult Google's support documentation or account team for operational details.
Under this clause, personal data processed through Google Ads will be deleted or returned to the advertiser upon termination of services, subject to any legal retention requirements applicable to Google. The practical scope of data covered depends on the categories stored in Google's ad platform infrastructure.
How other platforms handle this
We keep information for as long as we need it to provide our products, comply with legal obligations, or for other legitimate purposes, such as to maintain safety, security, and integrity.
After your account is deleted, we keep data about interactions you've had on our service to prevent abuse, ban evaders and others in an effort to protect and ensure the safety and security of our service and our members.
At Ledger, earning and maintaining our users' trust is a top priority. That's why we are deeply committed not only to protecting your privacy and securing your personal data, but also to being fully transparent about how we handle it.
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"At the choice of the Customer, Google will delete or return all Customer Personal Data to the Customer after the end of the provision of the Google Ads services relating to processing, and delete existing copies unless Union or Member State law requires storage of the Personal Data.— Excerpt from Google Ads's Google Ads Data Processing Terms
1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision implements the GDPR Article 28(3)(g) requirement that processors delete or return all personal data to the controller at the end of service provision. The retention exception for Union or Member State law requirements is a standard GDPR-permitted carve-out. Enforcement authority rests with EU supervisory authorities. 2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Low to Medium. Advertisers should confirm the procedure for requesting deletion or return and what data categories are practically available for return versus deletion only. Data stored in Google's aggregated or anonymized reporting systems may not be subject to this obligation if it is no longer attributable to individual data subjects. 3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU and UK advertisers should document the deletion or return procedure as part of their GDPR Article 30 records. Advertisers in jurisdictions with independent data retention or disposal obligations should evaluate whether Google's deletion mechanism satisfies those requirements. 4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Procurement teams should confirm the specific data deletion procedures Google employs, the timeline for completion, and whether a certificate of deletion is provided. The carve-out for legally required retention should be evaluated to understand what categories of data Google may retain after service termination. 5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Compliance teams should establish offboarding procedures that include a formal data deletion or return request to Google upon service termination. Records of the deletion request and confirmation should be retained as evidence of compliance with GDPR Article 28(3)(g).
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This clause governs the disposition of advertiser personal data at the end of the service relationship, implementing the GDPR Article 28(3)(g) requirement. Advertisers should understand the procedures for exercising this right and confirm what data categories are covered, including data stored in Google's ad serving and reporting infrastructure.
Under this clause, personal data processed through Google Ads will be deleted or returned to the advertiser upon termination of services, subject to any legal retention requirements applicable to Google. The practical scope of data covered depends on the categories stored in Google's ad platform infrastructure.
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