{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1745317,
        "msgid": "google-knows-everything-about-you-here-is-how-to-view-and-block-it-1780928243",
        "date": "2026-05-18 08:40:00",
        "title": "Google Knows Everything About You: Here Is How to View and Block It",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNBC",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Technology",
        "summary": "An exploration into how Google collects extensive user data, ranging from search history to physical location tracking, to power its advertising ecosystem. The article provides a practical guide for users to manage their privacy settings and disable activity tracking within their Google accounts.",
        "content": "<p>In the current digital era, Google\u2019s services have become inseparable\nfrom daily life. From searching for information via Google Search and\nsending messages through Gmail to navigating routes on Google Maps and\nwatching entertainment on YouTube, almost all of a user\u2019s online\nactivities are centred around this tech giant\u2019s ecosystem.<\/p>\n<p>Behind the convenience offered lies a significant fact: Google\ncollects and stores detailed traces of user activity through its various\nservices. This data is collected with specific purposes. For Google\u2019s\nparent company, Alphabet Inc., this information serves as a valuable\nasset used to improve service performance, provide personalised\nrecommendations based on user habits, and serve as the primary basis for\npresenting relevant advertisements. While this data collection practice\nhas become a global tech industry standard, it also raises significant\nquestions regarding privacy and the limits of user surveillance.<\/p>\n<p>According to records from CNBC Indonesia, Google builds a profile for\nevery user, ranging from basic identity to personal habits,\nincluding:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><p>Full name, gender, and date of birth<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Mobile numbers and personal email addresses<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Entire search history<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>List of visited websites and content read<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Personal preferences, including types of sports, food, hobbies,\nand lifestyle<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Demographic information such as residence and workplace\nlocation<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Movement history and visited locations<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>YouTube watch and search history<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Users have the right to know what information has been collected and\nto manage how that data is used. Google provides transparency access,\nalthough these settings are often hidden and rarely noticed. Here is a\ncomplete guide to tracing the personal data stored on Google\u2019s\nservers:<\/p>\n<ol type=\"1\">\n<li>Viewing Ad Preferences and Profiles<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>One of the easiest ways to see how Google profiles you is by\nexamining the types of ads displayed. This data is compiled based on\nrecorded online habits.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><p>Ensure you are logged into your personal Google account.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Visit the \u2018Manage Ads Settings\u2019 link. This page will display the\nprofile Google has built about you, including estimated age, gender, and\na list of topics and interests deemed relevant to you.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Here, you can see which advertising categories you prefer and a\nlist of advertisers you have blocked. This page also explains why you\nsee certain ads, allowing you to understand how your behavioural\npatterns are translated into marketing data.<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"2\" type=\"1\">\n<li>Tracing Location History his feature may be one of the most\nsurprising for many users. Since 2010, Google has stored the location\nhistory of users who have enabled location services on their devices.\nThis data is integrated with Google Maps and search services.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><p>To view your travel records, access the Google Locations History\nPage.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>There, you can view a timeline map containing records of places\nyou have visited, the duration of visits, travel routes, and even the\nmodes of transport used.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>While Google uses this data to improve traffic prediction\naccuracy and provide local recommendations, it also means your physical\nmovements are recorded in detail over time.<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"3\" type=\"1\">\n<li>Accessing YouTube Activity History<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>YouTube is more than just a video platform; it is a massive source of\ndata regarding user interests, opinions, and information needs. Every\nkeyword typed into the search bar and every video played is stored to\nbuild a personalised recommendation list.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><p>You can review this trail through the YouTube Search History and\nYouTube Watch History menus.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>From this data, Google learns whether you prefer educational,\nentertainment, or news content, which is then used to customise ads on\nthe platform and other Google services.<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>How to Stop Google\u2019s Surveillance<\/p>\n<p>Increasing awareness of digital privacy has led many users to want to\nreduce their data footprint. Fortunately, Google provides options to\ncontrol or even stop these monitoring practices. However, there are\nconsequences to understand. If data collection is disabled, Google will\nno longer have the material to customise its services. Consequently, ads\nwill become random and less relevant, search suggestions will no longer\nbe personalised, and the convenience of features like route predictions\nor content recommendations will decrease significantly.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the steps to disable activity tracking, quoted from a CNET\nguide:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><p>Open Google.com via a browser on a computer or mobile\ndevice.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Log in to the Google account you wish to manage.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Click the profile icon in the top right corner, then select\n\u2018Manage your Google Account\u2019.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>In the left-hand menu, select the \u2018Privacy &amp; Personalization\u2019\ntab, then click \u2018Manage your Data &amp; Personalization\u2019. This section\nis the main control centre for all your privacy settings.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Scroll down to the \u2018Activity Controls\u2019 section, then select\n\u2018Manage your Activity Controls\u2019. This contains the primary settings for\nwhat Google is permitted to store.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>You will see a box labelled \u2018Web &amp; App Activity\u2019. Switch the\ntoggle to the \u2018off\u2019 position to disable it. This stops the storage of\nsearch activity, visited sites, and app usage.<\/p><\/li>\n<li><p>Google will display a notification that\u2026<\/p><\/li>\n<\/ul>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/google-knows-everything-about-you-here-is-how-to-view-and-block-it-1780928243",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}