TECH TIP - Control your data within Google Services
Google is most prevalent provider for email and associated services, and it leverages user data to enhance its offerings.
How Google Uses Your Data
Google collects data from your interactions across its services—such as search history, email content (for spam filtering and categorization), and usage patterns. This data is used to:
- Improve Service Quality: Enhance spam detection, suggest smart replies, and optimize storage.
- Personalize Experiences: Tailor ads, recommend relevant content, and provide predictive features like autocomplete.
- Security Enhancements: Detect suspicious activity and protect accounts from unauthorized access.
- Gemini AI services: More recently important, Google is using your data to train its AI engine.
While these practices improve functionality and user experience, they also raise important considerations around privacy and data protection.
Take Control of Your Data
Limit Google’s use of your data (from within Gmail)
Login to your Gmail account using your browser on your computer.
In the top right, select the gear icon.
Select ‘See All Settings’ at the top of the menu.
Scroll down to ‘Smart Features’. Uncheck the box.
Just below, ‘Google Workspace smart features:’, select ‘Manage Workspace smart feature settings.’ Adjust the sliders to make changes.
