Google Brings Privacy Controls a Little Closer to Search

Google is making it easier for users to control their privacy. The company recently started providing a wide range of privacy controls for users with a Google Account, and it’s now bringing some of those controls to Search.

Starting today, Google Search users will be able to control their data used by Search on desktop and mobile. The same controls will arrive for the users of Google’s app on Android and iOS in the coming weeks.

The new controls essentially give you direct access to some of the same settings that are found on your Google Account dashboard. You will, for example, be able to control things like whether you want Google to display personalised ads using your data. You’ll also be able to control if you want Google to store your web and voice data. And more importantly, you will be able to delete your search activity on Google.

These settings aren’t new at all, and Google has been offering these controls for months now. The only problem was that these settings were essentially hidden deep inside the Google Account dashboard, and they are now much easier to access than ever before thanks to the direct link from Google Search.

Google says the company will introduce similar privacy controls for other apps like Google Maps, etc. next year.