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Google Expands Ad Tracking, But Gives You More Control

Previously, Google served ads based on Google account activity; outside sites and apps were handled by cookies.

June 29, 2016
Privacy, security, surveillance, spying, spy

Google will now deliver more relevant ads, if you opt in.

The next time you sign into a Google service, you might see an alert that asks you to "Turn on Ads Personalization." If you say yes, Google will "use your Google Account activity and information on Google services (ex: Search, YouTube) as well as your browsing data from websites and apps that partner with Gooogle" to serve up ads that are most relevant to you, according to a screenshot from Gmail on Chrome posted by Recode.

Previously, Google served up ads based only on Google account activity; outside sites and apps were handled by cookies. Now, however, you can lump everything together and control it all in a new dashboard known as My Activity. There you'll see recent activity, which you can filter by date and product. If you don't want some of that data to factor into the ads you see, delete it.

A separate portal lets you add or dismiss ad topics (humor, finance, smart phones, fitness, etc.) and choose whether or not you want to see ads based on those interests with the click of a button.

As Recode notes, the opt-in move is "a way for Google to get ahead of the growth in ad-blocking" while avoiding backlash from privacy advocates.

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About Don Reisinger

Don Reisinger is a longtime freelance technology journalist and product reviewer. He covers everything from Apple to gaming to start-ups. You can follow him on Twitter @donreisinger.

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