Google Search History Retention

Summary

Google saves search history, including legal advice queries, typically for 18-24 months. Accessing this data for court in Nebraska requires it to be relevant, not overly prejudicial, and verifiable. Legal processes like warrants or subpoenas are necessary to obtain such information.

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Would you be able to tell me if google saves search history consisting of someone googling legal advice? And if so can it be used in court?
Google does save search history, but using it as evidence in court depends on your location and the specific case. Could you please provide your location?
Nebraska
Hello ****,
In Nebraska, for search history to be used in court, it must:
- Be relevant to the case
- Not be overly prejudicial
- Be authentic and verifiable
However, obtaining such information requires a warrant or a subpoena.
Even if it’s google searches from years ago and they were deleted years ago, google still keeps them?
Yes, Google typically retains search data for a period of time, even after deletion. However, accessing such data requires a legal process like a court order. It's also important to note that Google's policies may vary over time.
How long do they typically keep the search data?
Google's data retention policies vary, but typically they may hold onto your search data for *-24 months. However, they can make exceptions based on legal requirements or investigations.
If you were googling legal advice, would they keep that data?
Yes, Google would keep that data too. Any search queries, including those related to legal advice, are generally stored according to Google's data retention policies.
They typically don’t keep your search history forever though?
Correct, Google doesn't keep your search history forever. Their policy states that they usually remove or anonymize it after *-24 months unless they're legally required to keep it longer for reasons like ongoing investigations.
Even if you created your account decades ago?
Yes, even if your account was created decades ago, the search history is typically retained for *-24 months. It's not kept indefinitely, unless required for legal reasons or investigations.
Okay, thanks for the information!
You're welcome, ****! If you have any more questions about legal issues or Google's data policies, feel free to ask. I'm here to help.