Google updates privacy policy, allows uploaded media to train AI | Ukraine news
Google updates privacy policy, allows uploaded media to train AI | Ukraine news
https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/3b958a7c_google_updates_privacy/
Publish Date: 2026-07-06 13:15:00
Source Domain: mezha.net
A quiet privacy change may let Google use your uploaded images, audio, and video to improve AI unless you opt out. Check Search privacy controls now.
An update to Google’s privacy policy changed the approach to data storage, including media – images, files, audio, and video recordings – for the purpose of training artificial intelligence. In other words, if you upload media to Google Search services, it may be used to train AI unless you opt out.
The changes came after an unnoticed update to the privacy policy of the search services, announced in June in a letter to customers. The update allegedly offered users greater control over history retention and personalization, but at the same time introduced new options that allow saving media for AI training.
The new settings include Search History and Personalized Recommendations, which govern how your activity is used for personalization and the retention period of your web and app activity data.
These changes apply not only to Google Search but also to other Google services, including Maps, Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Translate, and News.
For example, when using Google Lens for image-based search, you can allow saving such an image for AI training.
If you use Search Live or Translate for language practice, the corresponding audio recordings may also be stored, just like other voice queries.
Just like your Search History, the media you save are also used to develop and improve Google’s services and technologies, including AI models and security measures.
The Google Help Center confirms the same: your history is used to provide, develop, and improve services (for example, to train generative AI models) and to protect Google, users, and the public through human reviewers.
– Google Help Center
What the changes mean for user privacy
The key benefit is that users gain greater control over their data. You can adjust the settings on the Search History and Personalization pages: uncheck the…
