Google puts option online to automatically delete data after three months

Google has started offering the option to automatically delete data after three or eighteen months. The search giant has announced this. It has been known since the beginning of last month that the feature would be available.

The option is already available on iOS and Android, reports Google. The option has also been made live on the web. The option to automatically remove data from search results can be accessed via this link. The Location History one doesn’t seem to be active on all accounts yet.

Google announced the feature to automatically delete data in early May. After activating the function, Google will automatically delete the data after the specified period of three or eighteen months. Google then announced that the same retention policy applies to auto-delete as to other deletions. Tools that measure popularity like Google Trends or YouTube viewcounters keep the anonymized count. “We immediately begin the process of removing data from our systems. It can no longer be used to personalize your Google experience, such as personalizing ads.”

Google uses the data to personalize services and to make advertisements more targeted. All of Google’s advertising products rely on the data the company collects about users, and the company relies on advertising for much of its revenue. Turning on web and app activity tracking is necessary, among other things, for the installation of Google Home speakers and the search for already visited or favorite places in Google Maps.