How long does Google Timeline keep data?
Google will start automatically deleting users' location history after 18 months. Web and app activity will also default to 18 months for new accounts.
You can travel back in time and take a look at your home as far back as 15 years ago.
Historically, Google has retained that information indefinitely, but in 2019, the company rolled out a way to automatically delete data points after three months or 18 months, depending on the chosen setting.
Obtaining Timeline Data
A court warrant is required to request data available in Timeline directly from Google. However, if the suspect's Google ID and password are known, an expert can obtain raw geolocation data that can be used to reconstruct the Timeline by using Elcomsoft Cloud Explorer.
Information retained until your Google Account is deleted
We keep some data for the life of your Google Account if it's useful for helping us understand how users interact with our features and how we can improve our services.
Google accounts created after June 2020 automatically clear web and app searches after 18 months. For accounts created before then, Google retains Web & Activity data indefinitely by default; in theory, Google would have your search history from when you first opened your Google account.
In Google Maps, drag the orange person icon to a location, then click "See more dates" to view past images. In Google Earth, search for a location, go to View > Historical Imagery, and drag the slider left to go back in time.
iMyFone D-Back for Android is a desktop-based data recovery software that works excellently to regain Google account data without any OS restriction. Your deleted google location history is saved on your Google account for 18 months, and you can regain it through this software.
When you choose to delete activity manually or activity is deleted automatically based on your auto-delete setting, we immediately start the process of removing it from the product and our systems. First, we aim to immediately remove it from view and the data may no longer be used to personalize your Google experience.
Google Maps Timeline is a personal map that helps you remember routes and trips you've taken and places you've been based on your Location History.
Can your Google searches be used against you?
Employers can monitor your Google searches
For the most part, your employer has the right to monitor your internet browsing history, especially if you're using a computer supplied by that employer during business hours. It's not hard to imagine how those searches might later be used against you in court.
Or, if someone has a protective order against you and you attempt to stalk them, your search history can be used to support further charges. However, many charges are based on intent, meaning your search results on their own cannot be the sole basis for a conviction.

Under the GDPR, you can only hold personal data for as long as you need it. One of the 7 principles of the GDPR is the principle of storage limitation, which is the idea that personal data should only be kept long enough for it to be processed for its stated purpose.
This includes your browsing history, the videos you watch, and the websites you visit – even in private browsing mode. In most countries, ISPs can track and store this information for up to two years.
Yes, simply by contacting your internet service provider. They are obligated by law to store records of your online activity. The only exception is that your provider could have already deleted the data if the history is older than the data retention period.
Google Earth's historical imagery tool combines data from many sources to show a particular area looked. You can go as far back as the 1930s. However, you can use the feature only on the desktop app, which may look a bit dated, but it has everything you'll need and then some.
- Open Google Earth.
- Find a location.
- Click View Historical Imagery or, above the 3D viewer, click Time .
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
- Tap your profile picture or initial Your Timeline .
- To find another day or month, at the top, tap Today. Swipe left or right on the calendar and tap a day.
Recover deleted internet history through System Restore
The easiest method is to do a system restore. If the internet history was deleted recently, then system restore will recover it.
Why you should delete your browsing history. Just like you have to clear out the dust from your vacuum cleaner to continue cleaning, you should clear the data on your browser so it remains speedy and efficient. Your browsing history records are cluttered with cache files, cookies, search history, and autofill data.
What do the dots mean on Google Timeline?
Its 'places' you probably visited. On a given day Google guess places you stopped at, (shown as small circles on the daily map, typically with a small icon in) .. these places are shown as red dots on the initial map.
In most cases, Google will not report suspicious searches unless circumstances call for it. Child pornography is a prime example. While Google isn't required to actively monitor illegal content, it may, however, report crimes such as child pornography.
Can Private Browsing be tracked by the police? Yes. The police can get a warrant to make your internet service provider give up your connection logs. Since Private Browsing Mode doesn't hide anything from the ISP, they will see what IPs you were connected to and when.
Right now, the government can collect web browsing and internet search history without a warrant under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act. Section 215 is the most controversial and dangerous provision of FISA. That's because it is so vague and so broad.
With the exception of child pornography, you haven't committed a crime by searching for illegal content until you actually engage in any illegal activity. As a rule of thumb, if something feels illegal, it could be in your best interest to not search for it online.
Does the FBI check Internet history? All law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, use the information gathered from computer's internet browsing history, to help them investigate and ultimately resolve criminal cases.
- Looking at local browser history on the suspect's computer (as you mentioned).
- Demanding connection logs from the ISP, revealing what sites have been visited.
- Demanding connection records from the sites that you have visited.
The first thing you should know is that Chrome only stores your history for 90 days, after which it is automatically deleted and overwritten. TO SEE HISTORY EXCEEDING 90 DAYS: As your name has appeared as a Google Profile and I am able to view it, you clearly have a Google Account. This is good news for you.
A lot of data is generated as you browse the internet, and clearing your history only deletes the record of addresses you've visited that are stored locally on your device. It doesn't remove your Google search history, or other data stored on remote servers. It also doesn't delete cache data, or disable cookies.
History older than 90 days is stored in the Archived History sqlite database file. As with the Chrome install, the actual location of the actual sqlite file varies by operating system. Once it is located you may have to close Google Chrome to unlock the file then open it with your favorite sqlite data browser.
How often does Google delete history?
Google has announced that the company will now automatically delete new users' Location History and Web & App Activity after 18 months, but this doesn't apply to existing Google accounts.
Deleting your browsing history is like deleting your email's “Sent” folder. On your end, it's gone, but the information has already been sent. Your information is on the WiFi owners' router logs, even if you have cleared it on your end.
- On your computer, open Chrome.
- At the top right, click More .
- Click History. History.
- On the left, click Clear browsing data.
- Select how much history you want to delete. To clear everything, select All time.
- Check the boxes for the info you want Chrome to clear, including Browsing history. ...
- Click Clear data.
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