Privacy Expert Urges Google Users to Disable New Search History Setting as AI Trains on Uploaded Media
Updated
Updated · HuffPost · Jun 16
Privacy Expert Urges Google Users to Disable New Search History Setting as AI Trains on Uploaded Media
3 articles · Updated · HuffPost · Jun 16
Summary
Google is rolling out “Search Services History” over the next few months, saving users’ uploaded images, files, audio and video for search features and AI model improvement.
The setting can also store Search results, Maps places viewed, AI Mode answers, and Search Live recordings and transcripts, expanding what Google keeps beyond traditional web activity.
Calli Schroeder of the Electronic Privacy Information Center urged users to turn it off, warning that photos, voices and search queries can expose sensitive personal and biometric information and could later be used by law enforcement.
Google said the feature is meant to help users revisit visual and voice searches and get more relevant results, adding that it is not collected for biometric purposes and can be turned off at any time.
Users already opted out of Web & App Activity should remain opted out by default, but the change broadens concerns that personalization can make ads and recommendations feel invasive or overly restrictive.