Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jul 12

Google Rolls Out Search Setting That Saves User Media for AI Training Up to 4 Years

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jul 12

Google Rolls Out Search Setting That Saves User Media for AI Training Up to 4 Years

Q: Google's new setting may be saving your images and voice. Is it enabled on your account by default?

It may be enabled by default, depending on your existing Google settings. Google says the new “Search Services History” control, including the “Save Media” option, is tied to your prior “Web & App Activity” choice. If you had “Web & App Activity” turned on, “Search Services History” will generally be on as it rolls out, which means Google may save images from Google Lens, voice recordings from Search, files, and other media interactions. If you had “Web & App Activity” turned off, the new setting should be off by default. For accounts that never changed “Web & App Activity,” Google has not clearly confirmed a universal default in public reporting. That means users should not assume it is off. Privacy experts say the safest approach is to check directly in your account. You can verify it at myactivity.google.com. In “Search Services History,” look for the “Save Media” checkbox. Turning it off stops future media collection, but it does not fully undo past collection. Previously saved media may still be retained and may continue to be used for AI development for up to four years, even if later deleted from your account, according to the reporting. The practical answer is that many users will likely find it on if they previously allowed Google activity tracking. The only reliable way to know is to check each Google account manually and change the setting if you do not want new images or voice data saved.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 12

Google is introducing a Search Services History control that can store images, uploaded files, voice recordings, Search Live transcripts and other Search interactions when users are signed in.
The new Save Media option lets Google retain media from tools like Google Lens and voice search, and the company says that material may be used to improve its AI models and technologies.
Prior account choices matter: if Web & App Activity or Search Personalization were already on, Search Services History may also default on as the rollout reaches users.
Turning Save Media off stops future media from being saved for AI training, but previously saved items must be deleted manually and data already selected for model training may be kept for up to 4 years.
The setting appears in Google My Activity and does not cover separate controls for Gemini Apps, YouTube, NotebookLM or Google Voice, leaving users to review multiple privacy menus.