Device Usage Study Privacy Policy

Thank you for agreeing to participate in the Device Usage Study ("Study"), which helps Google better understand how people use the internet on their devices.

Privacy Policy Highlights

If you participate in the Study, Google:

• Will collect information on how you use the internet, including the websites and apps you visit or use and your activity on those websites and apps, even if you are using privacy features on your web browser or other platforms (for example, Chrome Incognito). This means that some information that was originally anonymous, pseudonymous, or otherwise not personally identifiable to you may become personally identifiable and therefore can be used to identify you.
• Will collect information that you input into your devices, potentially including personal information and passwords
• May combine the data collected from the Study with data about your use of other Google products and services. This combination means that some information that was originally anonymous, pseudonymous, or otherwise not personally identifiable to you may become personally identifiable and therefore can be used to identify you. 
• Will share this data with Reality Mine Ltd. or with other service providers, whom we require to take appropriate confidentiality and security measures to protect data and also maintain their own privacy policies. 

• Will use the data above to administer this Study, including the redemption of any rewards or gift cards, and in connection with existing Google products and services, to provide, maintain, and improve them, and to develop new ones

Tip: You can leave the study at any time and you can pause data collection at any time.

Read the Privacy Policy in full as it explains in detail what to expect from the Study.

 

Privacy Policy Summary As part of the Device Usage Study, Google collects data through its meters, including through establishing a VPN on your device. A VPN is an app or profile on your device that will direct all internet data generated by and for your device, even if you are using privacy features on your web browser (e.g., Chrome Incognito), through Reality Mine Ltd. to enable us to collect the data. Other types of meters may also be utilized. When you participate in the Study, Google will collect data about how you use the internet. This includes, for example: Apps and websites you visit or use What you search for on those website and apps What media or content you consume on those websites and apps (e.g., videos, songs/audio) What you shop for online The content and advertising shown on your devices and your interactions with that content and advertising Information you input (e.g., text you type) into your devices, potentially including personal information and passwords Google profile, cookies or unique identifiers associated with your personal information, and device information Google may collect this data even if you are using privacy features on your web browser or other platforms (for example, Chrome Incognito). This means that some information that was originally anonymous, pseudonymous, or otherwise not personally identifiable to you may become personally identifiable and therefore can be used to identify you. Google may combine the data collected with other data collected by Google when you're using Google products and services as a Google user. For example, we may combine your Study data with information in your Google Account(s) (e.g., what you search for on Google or what you watch on YouTube), or with anonymous or pseudonymous identifiers (such as cookies or unique device identifiers) used by Google products and services. This combination means that some information that was originally anonymous, pseudonymous, or otherwise not personally identifiable to you, including data collected when you are using privacy features on your web browser (for example, Chrome Incognito), may become personally identifiable and therefore can be used to identify you.  Google will use the data above to administer this Study, including the redemption of any rewards or gift cards, and in connection with existing Google products and services, to provide, maintain, and improve them, and to develop new ones. For example, we may use this data to improve Google products, such as Search, YouTube and Google Shopping or to conduct ads related market research. Google will share this data with Reality Mine Ltd. or with other service providers, who we require to take appropriate confidentiality and security measures to protect data and also maintain their own privacy policies. Google may share this data with trusted partners with your consent. Your participation in the Study is voluntary. You may end your participation in the Study at any time by following the instructions provided to you during the sign-up process or through the Study portal. You can also temporarily pause or turn off metering at any time. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully because it explains how Google LLC ("Google") will collect, store, use, and share information obtained from the software and other Study metering technology (collectively "Meters"), used in connection with the Study.

 

Devices and metering technology

As part of your participation in the Study, Google and its Study Partners will provide you with the Meters, which you may be asked to install or enable. These Meters help Google learn about your use of the internet on your devices, including the mobile phones and other devices you register with the Study.

 

Information we collect

This section describes the Meter Data and Survey Data (collectively referred to as "Study Data") that Google and its Study Partners may collect.

Use of Your Devices. When a Meter is enabled on a device, it potentially will collect and record all interactions with that device, including all of your web and app activity  ("Meter Data"), even if you are using privacy features on your web browser or on other platforms (e.g., Chrome incognito). This means that some information that was originally anonymous, pseudonymous, or otherwise not personally identifiable to you may become personally identifiable and therefore can be used to identify you.

For example, when a Meter is placed on your mobile phone, it potentially will record everything you see on your screen and everything you tap, type, swipe, or otherwise input. In addition, as part of the Device Usage Study, Google collects data by establishing a VPN on your device. A VPN is an app or profile on your device that will direct all internet data generated by and for your device, even if you are using privacy features on your web browser or other platforms (e.g., Chrome Incognito), through Reality Mine Ltd., to enable us to collect the data. 

This means that we may collect the following types of information. This list contains examples of the types of data collected and is not a comprehensive list of every single data element.

• Content and Advertising. The content and advertising shown on or broadcast from your devices, and your interactions with that content and advertising, including:
  • Internet Activity. Your Internet browsing activities and interactions with content on the internet, including:
    • Every website or app you've visited or used and all of your interactions with those websites and apps, including all URL data (for both HTTP and HTTPS websites), destination IP addresses (which indicate the websites you've visited), and the length of time you spent visiting websites.
    • Search terms you enter and the results of such searches, the videos you view, the products you shop for online, information you enter into forms, the materials you download or upload, the advertisements you see, cookies on websites you visit, information and content on sites or apps that you visit or use and with which you interact and may include personal, financial and health information.
    • Your internet activity, even if you are using privacy features on your web browser (e.g., Chrome Incognito)
    • Data about the Internet browser you're using (e.g., Chrome, Safari) and your browser settings.

 

• Apps and Operating Systems. Your use of applications and widgets (collectively "apps"), software, and operating systems, including the apps you download and use on your devices, and your interactions with those apps, including opening, closing, or uninstalling, and the duration of your use. This data can be collected using the Meters, including operating system capabilities to view the contents of and your interactions with your applications, such as Accessibility services.

 

• Telephone, Emails, SMS, Instant Messaging, and Other Communications Services. Your use of telephony, electronic mail, SMS, instant messaging, and other communications services on your devices, including:
  • The timestamp and duration of telephone calls made or received, and information about the network used to place the call.
  • The timestamp of emails, SMS, or MMS text messages sent or received, SMS routing information, and messaging volume, including the number of attachments and message size.
  • The phone numbers you enter for outgoing telephone calls, SMS, or MMS text messages, and, if publicly available, the business names associated with those phone numbers.
  • Note that, as described in the "Content on Screen" subsection below, Meters may collect the content you see on your screen or device at any given time. This may include the content of messages as they appear on your screen and the keystrokes or other inputs you use for messaging. 

 

• Digital Media. Your consumption and use of digital media and entertainment on your devices, including:
  • The videos and TV programming you watch and listen to, including name, source, and other video and audio identifiers and the timestamp and duration of your viewing events.
  • The music you listen to, including the title, artist, and how long the music was played.
  • The digital games you play on your device.

 

• Clicks and Taps. Data associated with your clicks (e.g., with a mouse), taps (e.g., with a stylus or finger), or other interactions with technology and digital content.

 

• Information You Provide. Information you provide or otherwise input when visiting websites or using apps. This includes search terms, personal information, account or other log in credentials or passwords you provide to a website or app, including your name, email address, home/work address, telephone number, Social Security number, or credit card number.  If you don’t want information you provide to be collected, please use a non-metered device (or pause metering temporarily, as described below) when entering personal information on a website or app.

 

• Content on Screen. The content you see on your screen or device at any given time, including, for example, where that content appears on a website or in an app, and your interactions with it. This also includes, for example, the content you are reading or writing in messages as that content appears on your screen. As noted above, Study participants can use a non-metered device (or pause metering temporarily) when reading or entering personal information or using messaging services.

 

• Your Use of Google Products. Information that Google collects from you when you use Google products and services, as set forth in the Google Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy or other applicable terms of service. When metering is enabled, we may collect this information for all Google accounts you may use, including accounts you may not have identified to us through surveys or other Study sign-up processes. Therefore, the information about your use of Google products may include information from the use of any Google accounts, even if not registered with the Study.

 

• Cookies. Cookies, unique numbers, or other identifiers from your browser, applications, or device, including anonymous and pseudonymous identifiers as well as cookies or other identifiers associated with your personal information or Google Account(s). 

 

• Device Information. Information collected whenever your device is powered on, including:
  • Device Identification. Data that identifies the devices you’re using, including manufacturer, operating systems, version numbers, hardware models, mobile network information (including phone number), and unique device identifiers from the device’s manufacturer.
  • System Status and Data Usage. Information about system status and data usage associated with your device, including:
    • System status, including device event information such as crashes and system activity.
    • Data indicating the mode your device is in (for example, on, off, standby, "Airplane").
    • How frequently your device is in use.
    • Battery status and charger use.
    • Amount of free and used local storage space.

 

• Network and Connectivity. Information related to the network connections of your devices, including:
  • Information about the device’s network usage, including connection state, type of cell network being used, timestamp for network status activity, signal strength, and data volume sent/received.
  • DHCP request information, which indicates when a device seeks to connect to a network.
  • Information indicating Wi-Fi connection status and Wi-Fi encryption type for any Wi-Fi connection.
  • Information related to Wi-Fi networks to which your device is connected, including SSIDs, MAC IDs, and other WiFi network IDs. These identifiers can be used to indicate when you’re at home or at other locations.

 

• Diagnostic and Device Data. Data related to the operation and quality of the Meters and accompanying technology, including session times, duration, number of traffic requests , number of websites visited, and information about device make, model, and capabilities, and browser and operating system types ("Diagnostic Data"). Diagnostic Data may be used for Study operations, maintenance, improvement, quality assurance, and Study participant verification purposes. Diagnostic Data may be collected even when metering is paused, when you have paused or signed out of the meter, or when a non-panelist is using the device.

 

Survey Data. Google and its Study Partners may also collect additional information about you as part of your participation in this Study ("Survey Data"):

• Your full name, home address, work address, household location, phone numbers, email addresses, unique Study participant ID, and other identifiable information.
• Information from your Google Account(s), including your full name, Gmail address(es), YouTube username(s), and any cookies or persistent identifiers associated with your Google Account(s).
• Information necessary to verify and authenticate your participation in the Study, including your Google Account information and email addresses associated with your Google Account(s).
• Demographic information about you and other members of your household, including age, gender, race, ethnicity, languages spoken, education, marital status, personal income, household income, the number of children you have, and the total number of adults and children in your household.
• Other survey questions that Google or its Study Partners may ask you to answer, including questions about your habits and preferences.

Minors. Google may collect Study Data from Study participants ages 13 and over. As set forth in the Terms and Conditions, children under the age of 13 are prohibited from using Meters or participating in the Study. You should ensure that such minors under the age of 13 do not use devices while metering is enabled.

Pause meters temporarily. Some metering technology may provide Study participants with the ability to temporarily pause metering or otherwise limit the collection of Study participant activity from this meter. As noted above, Google may collect Diagnostic Data from Meters while they are paused. To learn more about pausing meters, including tips and best practices, please consult the Help Center for the Study or other information provided to you about your Meters.

Non-participants. Only Study participants may use Meters. Study participants must notify individuals not participating in the Study of the presence of Meters and prevent them from using metered devices or instruct them to pause metering before using a metered device. Failure to pause metering may result in the collection of Study Data from individuals not participating in the Study.

Third-Party Data. Google also may obtain information from third parties (other than Study Partners) ("Third-Party Data"). Third-Party Data includes personal information about you, aggregated and/or anonymized data (including cookie data), and other consumer-related information from academic institutions, advertisers, publishers, data brokers, programming networks, and other entities.

Additional Information. Google and its Study Partners may provide you with further information about the operation of the Meters and the information they collect at the time of installation or enablement.

How we use the information we collect

Google will use Study Data and Third-Party Data in connection with your information from existing Google products and services, to administer this Study, including the redemption of any rewards or gift cards, and to provide, maintain, and improve Google products and services them, and to develop new ones.

Study Data and Third-Party Data may be:

• Combined with a Study participant ID that is unique to you or your personal information.
• Combined with data collected by Google when you're using Google products and services  ("Google Data"), even when you’re on a device or Google Account that is not registered with the Study and even when you’re not logged in to your Google Account. For example, we may combine Study Data or Third-Party Data with information in your Google Account(s), such as your Search activity, YouTube watch history and ads views or Shopping activity. This may include information from Google Accounts that are not registered to your Study's account but that we have determined are being used by you. 
• Combined with anonymous or pseudonymous identifiers (such as cookies or unique device identifiers) used by Google products and services. For example, Google may combine Study Data, Third-Party Data, or Google Account data (including personal information) with data from websites and apps that partner with Google.
• Combined with information (including personal information) collected from our Study Partners and other third parties, including academic institutions, advertisers, publishers, data brokers, programming networks, and other entities.
• Used to add, delete, change, or modify the advertisements or content you see on Google.com or other Google or Google affiliate properties.
• Used to facilitate your redemption of gift cards and/or rewards as part of this Study

Overall, your participation in this Study changes the way Google will use information it collects from you whenever you're using Google, including the combination of data from websites and apps that partner with Google with your personal information.

By combining information collected from you as a Study participant with information collected from you as a typical Google user, some information that was originally anonymous, pseudonymous, or otherwise not personally identifiable to you may become personally identifiable and therefore can be used to identify you. For example, your Internet browsing history obtained from a Meter -- which may be associated with a pseudonymous cookie and/or collected while using privacy features on your web browser (e.g., Chrome Incognito) -- could be combined with your personal information, including your unique Study participant ID or Google Account(s). 

Similarly, by combining Study Data or Third-Party Data with non-personally-identifiable information collected from third parties (e.g., anonymous cookies), such anonymous information may become personally identifiable and used to identify you. 

Any information collected as Study Data or Third-Party Data may be associated with other Study Data, Third-Party Data, Google Data, or data obtained from third parties in any combination. We also may combine information about your actual location (e.g., from a mobile device) with personal information associated with your unique Study ID or Google Account(s). 

Google processes information (including personal information) on our servers in many countries around the world, including countries that do not have specific data protection laws or that might afford you fewer legal rights with respect to your information. Although Google may process your information on a server located outside the country in which you live, we do so in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

How we share the information we collect

Google may work with its affiliates and other companies ("Study Partners") to manage and administer the Study, including the recruitment, vetting, and registration of panelists, distribution of Meters, collection and processing of data, management and distribution of panelist incentives and awards, and communication with panelists about Study administration and compliance with policies and procedures. Study Partners are trusted businesses who we require to take appropriate confidentiality and security measures to protect data and also maintain their own privacy policies. Google may share Study Data, Third-Party Data, Google Data (including personal information), or any combination of Study Data, Third-Party Data, and Google Data, with its Study Partners.

Google partners with Reality Mine Ltd and Tango Card, Inc. and may also partner with other service providers that are required to follow the same confidentiality, security, and privacy protocols as our Study Partners. Google may share Study Data, Third-Party Data, and Google Data (including personal information), or any combination of such data, with Reality Mine Ltd., Tango Card, Inc. and any other service providers as well.

Google will only share your personal information with third parties who are neither Study Partners nor service providers under the following circumstances:

• With your consent.
• If Google has a good-faith belief that access, use, preservation, or disclosure of the information is reasonably necessary to:
  • Meet any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable governmental request;
  • Enforce applicable Terms of Service, including investigation of potential violations;
  • Detect, prevent, or otherwise address fraud, security, or technical issues; or
  • Protect against harm to the rights, property, or safety of Google, our users, or the public as required or permitted by law.

Google also may share non-personally identifiable, aggregated and anonymized information with third parties other than its Study Partners and service providers, such as academic institutions, advertisers, publishers, data brokers, programming networks, and other entities. Google also may publish non-personally identifiable, anonymized and/or aggregated information, either through its own publications or through third-party publishers.

Information security

Google takes reasonable steps to protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure, or destruction of data that Google stores on its systems. These include internal reviews of Google data collection, storage and processing practices, and security measures, including appropriate encryption and physical security measures to guard against unauthorized access to systems where Google stores personal data.

Google restricts access to personal information to Google employees, contractors, and agents who need to know that information in order to process it on Google's behalf. These individuals are bound by confidentiality obligations and may be subject to discipline, including termination and criminal prosecution, if they fail to meet these obligations.

These security measures apply only to Google's storage of data on its own systems. They do not apply to data on other systems that are not owned or controlled by Google.

U.S. state privacy law requirements

Some U.S. state data protection laws, like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), require specific disclosures for state residents.

We explain the categories of information collected and the sources of that information in the Information We Collect section above. We explain how Google uses information in the How We Use the Information We Collect section above. We explain when we may disclose information in the How We Share the Information We Collect section above. Google does not sell your personal information. Google also does not “share” your personal information as that term is defined in the CCPA. Google processes your information for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, which include “business purposes” under the CCPA. These purposes are enumerated in this Privacy Policy. We explain how Google retains information in the Your Requests to Delete Data section below. You can also learn more about how Google anonymizes data. As described there, when Google anonymizes data to protect your privacy, we maintain policies and technical measures to avoid re-identifying that information.

State laws like the CCPA and the VCDPA provide residents with the right to request information about how Google collects, uses, and discloses their information. And they also provide residents with the right to access and correct their information and request that Google delete their information. The VCDPA also provides the right to opt out of certain forms of profiling and targeted advertising. Lastly, the CCPA and VCDPA provide the right to not be discriminated against for exercising these privacy rights.

If you have additional questions or requests related to your rights under the CCPA and VCDPA, please contact us at [e-mail]. And if you disagree with the decision on your request, you can ask Google to reconsider it by responding to the team’s email.

Your requests to delete data

When your participation in the Study ends, Google may continue to store, use, and share the information previously obtained from you in accordance with this Privacy Policy. You may submit a written request for Google to delete the personal information collected by Google and/or a Study Partner during your participation in the Study at [e-mail]. Google will make reasonable efforts to comply with such requests, but may aggregate, anonymize, or otherwise de-identify any personal information instead of deleting it and may retain certain personal information for accounting, quality assurance, fraud detection and debugging purposes. When Google anonymizes data to protect your privacy, we maintain policies and technical measures to avoid re-identifying that information.

When and how this Privacy Policy applies to you

Once you have accepted the Device Usage Study Terms & Conditions, and during your participation in the Study, this Privacy Policy governs how Google will collect, store, use, and share Study Data and Third-Party Data. You also may be asked to agree to additional privacy-related terms as part of your participation in the Study.

Before you join the Study (including during the sign-up process, before you accept the Google Panel Terms & Conditions), this Privacy Policy does not apply. Instead, please refer to the Google Privacy Policy, which governs how Google collects, stores, uses, and shares data of non-panelists.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

Google may update this Privacy Policy from time to time in accordance with the Device Usage Study Terms & Conditions.