Google boosts privacy and security controls on its core products

The move comes as tech firms face increasing criticism and scrutiny over the amount of data they collect and how they manage it.

Google is expanding some of its privacy and security tools across its core products.

The move comes as big technology companies face increasing criticism and scrutiny over the amount of data they collect and how they manage it.

Now, YouTube users will be able to set their search and viewing histories to auto-delete after a set period of time.

And after adding an incognito mode – which means a user’s movements won’t be recorded when it’s turned on – to its YouTube mobile app last year, it will now also be a feature of Google Maps.

It will be available on Android this month. Google did not give an exact date for iOS.

It said people will also be able to delete their voice histories from artificial intelligence system Assistant using a voice command.

Eric Miraglia, director of Google’s product management, privacy and data protection office, said in a blog post: “Our goal has always been to create products that are simple, helpful, and intuitive.

“It’s no different with privacy and security: managing your data should be just as easy as making a restaurant reservation, or using Maps to find the fastest way back home.

“Earlier this year, we started rolling out more ways for you to protect your data, including making our controls easier to access, new ways to use Google apps with Incognito mode, and options to automatically delete data like your location history, searches, and other activity with Google.

“Making these controls consistent across our core products will help them become more familiar, and we hope, even easier to use. Today, we’re sharing a few more updates on our progress toward this goal.”

Google also announced moves to strengthen password security – to coincide with Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

It said with just one click, its new feature Password Checkup would be able to tell users if any of their passwords are weak, whether they have reused them across multiple sites, or if the company has discovered they have been compromised.

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