Google Stores All Your Voice Searches – Good Idea or Not?

OK Google! This simple phrase converts Android smartphones into an endless treasure trove of instant searches controlled by simple voice commands. In many ways, the future is already here but do you know that Google actually stores records of every voice search you carry out? The data it collects is used to improve and enhance its search features, and it also improves Google’s understanding of regional dialects, but it may not be reassuring for everyone to know that Google actually maintains voice logs of historical searches.

google voice search

In fact, you can even go back and listen to all the Google voice searches you have carried out so far. For a lot of people, this may throw up some embarrassing information, and for most, this may even represent a surprising breach of privacy violations.

Where can you find this information online?

In June 2015, Google launched a unified portal for all activities and information related to user’s Google accounts and privacy settings. This portal included several types of information such as search history, location history, YouTube viewing history and much more. This portal also includes a section wherein users can listen to their archived voice searches.

To get hold of this information pertaining to your Google account and search history, follow the steps given below:

  1. Go to history.google.com and log in to your Google account
  2. Click on the 3 bars menu option in the top-left corner
  3. Click on Voice and Audio Activity
  4. Here you can see the archived data of all the voice searches you have carried out
  5. You can also toggle ON or OFF the option to store your voice and audio inputs

In addition to all this information, this portal at history.google.com also provides some other insights into all the online activities you have carried out while signed in to your Google account in the past. The following information can be viewed here:

  • Web searches and browsing history
  • Location history and places you go
  • Synchronized data from calendar, contacts and more from all devices
  • Search history on YouTube
  • Viewed videos history on YouTube

What Google does with all this data is anyone’s guess though, but their user policies and privacy policies give it the right to collect all this data as it allows them to provide us with better features, services and functionalities.

We would like to hear from you and know what you think. Do you think it is a good idea that Google saves this data, or is it a threat towards individual privacy and data rights? Let us know in the comments section below.

Rahul Thadani

Rahul Thadani


49 Comments

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  1. It is kind of intruding in to privacy. Based on user’s acceptance it could have been recorded. As a matter of fact, it is not required for them to record what I am looking on. This is the threat that soon users of Google would be too vulnerable.

    Reply
  2. Avatar Harsh SainiOctober 22, 2015 at 8:27 PM

    I think it is a good idea as it will help them to recognize words more correctly why do you think it isn’t safe

    Reply
  3. Avatar RAM RANJAN SINGHOctober 22, 2015 at 9:01 PM

    It is very good idea.

    Reply
  4. Avatar RAM RANJAN SINGHOctober 22, 2015 at 9:03 PM

    I think that it will be very Popular

    Reply
  5. Avatar kishor patilOctober 22, 2015 at 9:13 PM

    its a good idea for searching yours desire sites and as a results they understand you & yours need. its time for audio commands not for written commands. Google now or siri or cortanna will help you easily on her tips.so welcome google now .I think saying ok google it may be desirable as user.

    Reply
  6. idea of storing data is not good .
    privacy must be maintained.

    Reply
  7. Avatar Avinash sagarOctober 22, 2015 at 10:49 PM

    nice idea

    Reply
  8. Good idea

    Reply
  9. Bad Idea. I value my privacy and I do not want anybody spying on me.

    Reply
  10. Avatar Sukhdev SinghOctober 23, 2015 at 6:57 AM

    It is a wonderful and surprising information for the internet users. There is no limit to which the modern communication technology can go.

    Reply
  11. Avatar kalpesh k vishnagaraOctober 23, 2015 at 8:39 AM

    i think is very good one

    Reply
  12. Avatar kalpesh k vishnagaraOctober 23, 2015 at 8:39 AM

    I THINK GOOD ONE IDEA FOR ALL ………..

    Reply
  13. Avatar David MaharajOctober 23, 2015 at 9:19 AM

    Google is cheating d customers. It’s d minimum courtesy as a human they should ask its customer weather it can save d voice or not. They take there customers as granted and steals d private data. All American companies are like this. Here on let’s use rediff mail or other mail to end gmail monarchy

    Reply
  14. It is a breach of trust and confidentiality.

    Reply
  15. Avatar Saminder SinghOctober 23, 2015 at 11:48 AM

    I certainly think its not a good idea. It is definitely intruding into one’s privacy. At some time or other, it can be accessed by unauthorized persons to use it for bad things.
    It should be stopped.

    Reply
  16. I think it good idea

    Reply
  17. yes this is gud idea

    Reply
  18. Avatar Ramesh PatilOctober 23, 2015 at 12:32 PM

    This is not a new thing. when Govt. will like to selectively kill us, all the data collected by google, facebook and whatsapp will be useful.

    Reply
  19. Its true that Google stores every word you said to Google Now Launcher and its accessible to you(users)only, google doesnt share or post anywhere infact users can delete those stored voice…LOL, by signing in

    Reply
  20. Avatar Angsuman ChatterjeeOctober 23, 2015 at 1:02 PM

    Storing the information is not acceptable.

    Reply
  21. Avatar Angsuman ChatterjeeOctober 23, 2015 at 1:07 PM

    Storing a personal identifier is not acceptable.

    Reply
  22. I think bad idea

    Reply
  23. I think storing & sharing of personal data is not good for anyone. It is also violence of privacy. But for improvement of any product or feature, it is very useful.

    Reply
  24. not good

    Reply
  25. leave safely always or fully protect your system with your data thanks,

    Reply
  26. Avatar Deepanshu sharmaOctober 23, 2015 at 6:51 PM

    i think its very bad for users.no pvcy in this

    Reply
  27. Very Blaster in virus

    Reply
  28. Avatar Eshwar SahuOctober 23, 2015 at 7:12 PM

    Just Like a good

    Reply
  29. Avatar Debshubra ChakrabortyOctober 23, 2015 at 7:21 PM

    It is A Great Idea !!!!!!

    Reply
  30. Avatar Nihar patelOctober 24, 2015 at 9:31 AM

    That is good idea….You Should do it as soon as…

    Reply
  31. nice

    Reply
  32. Avatar kamal sharmaOctober 24, 2015 at 3:13 PM

    good

    Reply
  33. Avatar aslam mondalOctober 24, 2015 at 10:06 PM

    its good but it is also a privacy issue .hackers can hack google and blackmail many user.google also can go this.

    Reply
  34. Avatar Saddam HusainOctober 25, 2015 at 12:49 PM

    Comment in Hindi language – Google karna kya chahta hai ? Google ko ye adhikar nahi ki kisi ki Privacy ki Dhajjiya Uda de. Google chahe to baad me kisi ko blackmail kar sakta hai . Isliye ye google ki Blackmailing Krantikari Yojna hai.

    Reply
  35. Not a good idea.

    Reply
  36. Google are already stealers… They steal all the data.. Even what you surf, what you watch on youtube.. And they made fall in love blindly.. LOL

    Reply
  37. Avatar babagana bukarOctober 25, 2015 at 4:22 PM

    it is good ideas indeed….

    Reply
  38. Avatar babagana bukarOctober 25, 2015 at 4:26 PM

    perhaps that could increases it capabilities to enhance great…

    Reply
  39. while we instaling the quick heal, purchased from asked what is the answer to the place

    Reply
    • Rajiv Singha Rajiv SinghaOctober 26, 2015 at 10:21 AM

      Hi Joseph,

      You can put the name of the source where you have purchased the product from. If it is a store, then put its name. If you have bought it online, then put the name of the website.

      Regards,

      Reply
  40. Avatar Susanta GanjanOctober 26, 2015 at 9:30 AM

    I think It is Very Good Idea

    Reply
  41. very nice but not so intresting

    Reply
  42. I have lost my email id which I have putted during registration. so can I change it now. if not then tell me whether it will create problems for me in future.

    Reply
  43. Avatar Suresh Krishna SOctober 26, 2015 at 9:37 PM

    Its Very Good Idea That Voice Control

    Reply
  44. Verygood

    Reply
  45. Not Great….

    Reply