This analysis describes what Google'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
Account access and data retention rights are extended to third-party administrators and resellers, meaning parties other than the user or Google may hold copies of account information.
Interpretive note: The excerpt is truncated with additional capabilities implied by 'They may be able to:' but not reproduced. Only the stated capability — access and retention of stored information — is reflected in the canonical claim.
The updated policy establishes a new opt-in mechanism that allows Google services like Search and Gemini to access data from other Google services you use, including Gmail, Google Photos, and Drive, to personalize your experience and show you targeted ads. Previously, Google's policy stated it did not show personalized ads based on content from these services. Under the revised terms, if you choose to enable this feature, Google may use data from Gmail, Photos, and Drive to personalize ads and content, including through a feature called Personal Intelligence. You can manage this through your Google account settings to control which services can access data from other services.
View change record →Google's Privacy Policy now gives an effective date of October 1, 2026, replacing May 26, 2026. One passage changed. It covers information Google collects when you are not signed in, which it stores with identifiers tied to your browser, app or device. The policy previously said this lets Google show more relevant search results or ads “based on your activity”; it now says “based on your activity across devices.”
View change record →The updated policy explicitly discloses that Google collects data when you are signed out and stores it with unique identifiers tied to your browser, application, or device. The policy also expands the types of activity it collects to include 'media (like images, files, audio and video) from your interactions,' in addition to previously listed categories. The revised language reorganizes privacy controls into 'Search Services History' and 'Web & App Activity,' and clarifies that depending on your settings, activity from services like Search, Maps, and Shopping is saved as history to your Google Account. You can manage these settings through your Google Account privacy controls, including the ability to turn off Web & App Activity or adjust Personalized Recommendations in Search services.
View change record →If your account is managed by a domain administrator or reseller, those parties may access and retain your stored account data, including email.
How other platforms handle this
You should notify us of any unauthorized use of your password or account.
You are responsible for all activities that occur under your Account. You agree that you shall monitor your Account to restrict use by minors
You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account and for maintaining the confidentiality of your password.
"With domain administrators If you’re a student or work for an organization that uses Google services, your domain administrator and resellers who manage your account will have access to your Google Account. They may be able to: Access and retain information stored in your account, like your emailExcerpt from Google's Privacy Policy
Get the weekly coverage letter
Companies change their terms without announcing it. We capture governance documents, compare each new version with the last, and publish what changed, with the source text behind it. One email a week on what we found and what we could not reach.
Account access and data retention rights are extended to third-party administrators and resellers, meaning parties other than the user or Google may hold copies of account information.
If your account is managed by a domain administrator or reseller, those parties may access and retain your stored account data, including email.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 258 platforms. See the full comparison.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google.