Understanding Google Bard's Location and Data Tracking: A Comprehensive Guide

• Google
• Bard

Google Bard, a chatbot released in March this year, has been designed to mimic human conversation, sorting through Google Docs, rediscovering Gmail messages, and even searching through every video on YouTube. With this expansion of functionalities, privacy concerns have emerged, particularly regarding the tracking and storing of users' data and locations. In this article, we delve into these issues and provide valuable tips on protecting your privacy while using Google Bard.

In the digital era, the balance between technology and privacy is crucial. As AI becomes more integrated into our lives, it is essential to understand how these tools handle our data.

How Google Bard Tracks and Stores User Data

By default, Google Bard stores every interaction with the chatbot for 18 months, but you can change it. This includes your prompts, approximate location, IP address, and any physical addresses connected to your Google account. While enhancing the chatbot's functionality, this data collection also means that any conversation you have with Bard could be selected for human review, potentially infringing on your privacy.

How to Protect Your Privacy

You'll be able to take steps to assert control over the information you give to Bard. For instance, you can stop Bard from autosaving your prompts and delete past interactions through the Bard Activity tab. However, turning off Bard Activity means you can't use any of the chatbot's extensions connecting it to Gmail, YouTube, and Google Docs. Additionally, while you can delete interactions with Bard manually, the data may not be immediately removed from Google servers.

Location Tracking: A Double-edged Sword

Bard may be able to identify your general location through your IP address and personal addresses associated with your Google account, even if you choose not to share your precise location. While this can help Bard provide more tailored responses, some users may be concerned about privacy. Google does provide some anonymization by grouping your location data with that of at least 1,000 other users in a 2-mile radius tracking area.

One method to mask your IP address is to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN can help protect your privacy by hiding your IP address and encrypting your online activities.

Final Thoughts

As AI technologies like Google Bard continue to evolve, users must be aware of how these tools handle their data. While these technologies provide numerous benefits, they also raise significant privacy concerns that should be noticed. Protecting your data allows you to enjoy these tools' conveniences without compromising your privacy.