# Google Photos Privacy: What Google Does With Your Images

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# Google Photos Privacy: What Google Can See and Access

June 16, 20268 min readArticle

### Table of Contents

- What Data Does Google Photos Collect?
- Is Google Photos Safe? Understanding Google Photos Encryption
- Can Google See My Photos? AI Scans and Organizes Your Library
- Google Photos Security Features and Protection Measures
- Locked Folder in Google Photos
- Sharing and Link Management
- 2FA for Added Protection
- Google Photos Privacy Concerns You Should Know About
- Google Photos vs DragBin Fotos: Which Offers Better Privacy?

Google Photos by far is the most popular and common photo backup app, used by millions of users around the world. While some love it's cross platform sharing, others are fond of the smart search and easy sync. However, beneath all of this, only a few question Google Photos privacy and what's happening with your photos.

We have already discussed whether [Google Drive scans your files](https://www.dragbin.com/can-google-drive-scan-my-files/) and how your files are never truly private. Unfortunately, Google Photos can access and scan your photos for illegal content. Other reasons for scanning include organizing and grouping photos into libraries, as well as powering AI-driven features.

In this article, we will discuss how safe Google Photos is, examine cases where photos have been wrongly identified, explore various privacy concerns and look at a secure alternative to Google Photos. If you really care about privacy, use platforms like [DragBin Fotos](/fotos/) which offers true zero knowledge encryption.

## What Data Does Google Photos Collect?

Google Photos [clearly states that they don't](https://support.google.com/photos/answer/12840331?hl=en) "sell your personal information to anyone or use the content you store in Photos for ads purposes." However, they do collect visual content of your media files, including photos and videos. This also includes the metadata such as timestamps and other GPS coordinates.

Google in [their privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en-US#infocollect) notes that "We also collect the content you create, upload, or receive from others when using our services. This includes things like... photos and videos you save..." So if you're wondering "can Google see my photos?" Yes, their automated system can indeed see them.Does that mean every employee at Google is scrolling through your photos? That is highly unlikely but they do have the right to investigate if their systems flag your content as illegal. If you want a [zero knowledge](/zero-knowledge-encryption/) platform to store your files that are only visible to you, try DragBin for Files.[Get 25GB Free](https://app.dragbin.com/signup)

## Is Google Photos Safe? Understanding Google Photos Encryption

Google Photos is secure from external threats like attackers because of their strong protection system. However, Google Photos Security is not the same as privacy when it comes to your files. While the technical measures are in place, Google Photos does not offer [end-to-end encryption](/e2ee-encryption/) by default.

Let us understand the difference and the encryption system :- Your photos are encrypted in transit between your device and Google's server using TLS, which powers HTTPS.
- After being stored on Google's servers, your photos are encrypted using AES-256 encryption, the same one which DragBin uses too.

While this explains how secure Google Photos is, many people overlook the issue of decryption keys. Since end-to-end encryption (E2EE) is not provided, Google can technically decrypt and access your photos to power its features. Unlike [client-side encryption](/client-side-encryption/), where only you control the encryption keys, Google manages the decryption keys for your photos.

## Can Google See My Photos? AI Scans and Organizes Your Library

Google Photos does scan and analyze your photos using AI which powers features like search and organization. Based on this face grouping and detection, it creates memories and collages. However, in accordance with Google Photos privacy, you are free to turn off face grouping.Based on [Google's Gemini feature in Photos privacy notice](https://support.google.com/photos/answer/15344015?hl=en), they don't train any generative AI models outside of Google Photos with your personal data in Google Photos." This statement does not say that your Photos data is used to train Gemini. However, it also does explicitly guarantee that no model training occurs within Google Photos itself.

You can turn off Gemini features in Photos by going to Photos settings -> Preferences -> Gemini features in Photos. Once you toggle this option off, it will disable the Ask Photos feature and other related AI. So, can Google see my photos? Yes, they can and use AI to analyze until you turn it off.

## Google Photos Security Features and Protection Measures

Before we proceed to the next section, there are some security measures that are implemented to protect your files. However, as discussed already, they may be invisible to hackers but visible to Google themselves. For those who want to learn how secure Google Photos is, here are some positives and negatives listed below.

## Locked Folder in Google Photos

The locked folder aims to give you a more private space where you can hide sensitive videos and photos. You get to implement an additional layer of security such as face lock, PIN or a screen lock among others. It is useful to note that your photos stored in the locked folder will not show up in memories.

## Sharing and Link Management

While Google does allow you to share links, partner sharing and comment options, there is not a dedicated dashboard for it. As one of the [best cloud storage for photos](https://www.dragbin.com/features/cloud-storage-for-photos/), DragBin allows you set passwords, expiring links, view and download limits to your files. You also get geo-restrictions, watermarks, VPN blocking and notifications via email.

## 2FA for Added Protection

To increase the security of your Google Photos account, add a two factor authentication or a two step verification. Setting a [strong password](https://www.dragbin.com/tools/strong-password-generator/) is the first step but attackers may crack it and breach through. In addition to your already set password, 2FA will now ask you for a second form of verification.

## Google Photos Privacy Concerns You Should Know About

As a part of the Google Photos security system, the automated scanning of your photos are used to detect child sexual abuse material among toher illegal things. This means every image is scanned and on the surface, this feature is amazing. However, there are Google Photos privacy flaws which have falsely flagged images.

For example, in 2022, [Medianama highlighted](https://www.medianama.com/2022/08/223-google-disables-accounts-flags-parents-csam-privacy-3/) how a [NYT report](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/21/technology/google-surveillance-toddler-photo.html) penned down the case of two fathers whose Google accounts were falsely flagged. Mark, a father from San Francisco, had his Google account disabled after uploading photos of his toddler's medical condition for a doctor's diagnosis. In a similar case, Cassio, a father from Texas, also lost access to his Google account after sharing medically requested photos of his child's infection with his wife via Google photos.

While the intent is good and noble, both of them lost their accounts and several emails and contacts among other files. There are various issues with this, including every photo being scanned and violating privacy. The main question should not be, "Is Google secure?" but rather, "Who can see and access your files?"

## Google Photos vs DragBin Fotos: Which Offers Better Privacy?

Solve all your Google Photos privacy concerns with DragBin Fotos, a true zero knowledge platform to back up your photos. With Fotos, you get unlimited storage with no compression, no file size restrictions and no quality degradation at all. Fotos is by far the best secure alternative to Google Photos that respects your privacy.

Unlike Google Photos that only offers 15GB of free storage, you can back up unlimited photo galleries with DragBin Fotos. Since your photos are encrypted before they leave your device, only you hold the decryption keys. With metadata protection implemented, nobody can see your filenames, folders or passwords.

Your photos get backed up automatically and the quick preview helps you browse through the thumbnails quickly. This will solve all sorts of "storage full" notifications forever and you do not have to delete any precious memories. Utilize easy sync across web, mobile, desktop and other compatible platforms.Simple Pricing

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#### Free Plan

$0/month- Up to 1,000 photos per month
- Zero-knowledge encryption
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#### Unlimited Plan

$10/monthFirst 1,000: FREE for 1 year!- Unlimited photo & video storage
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