Fact Check: Information about user activity on the service can be combined with other information to build or improve a profile about the user.

Fact Check: "Information about user activity on the service can be combined with other information to build or improve a profile about the user."

What We Know

The claim that user activity information can be combined with other data to enhance user profiles is supported by multiple sources. According to Google's Privacy Policy, the company explicitly states that it may combine personal information from one service with information from other services to improve user experiences. This includes data on user interactions, preferences, and behaviors across various platforms.

Moreover, a comprehensive guide on user data collection highlights that organizations often utilize both explicit and implicit data to create detailed user profiles. Explicit data is directly provided by users, while implicit data is inferred from user interactions, such as session duration and pages visited (DigitalOcean). This combination allows businesses to tailor their services and improve user engagement significantly.

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust. Google's Privacy Policy, a primary source, is a reliable document as it outlines the company's practices regarding data collection and usage. It emphasizes that user activity data is not only collected but also systematically combined with other data to enhance service personalization (Google Privacy Policy).

Furthermore, the guide on user data collection from DigitalOcean provides a detailed explanation of how organizations leverage various types of data to build comprehensive user profiles. This source is credible as it comes from a well-known platform that educates users on technical topics, including data privacy and user experience (DigitalOcean).

While some sources discuss the ethical implications and privacy concerns surrounding data collection, they do not contradict the claim. Instead, they emphasize the necessity for organizations to balance user privacy with the benefits of data collection (TermsFeed, Usercentrics). This suggests that while the practice is common and often necessary for improving user experience, it must be conducted responsibly.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that information about user activity can be combined with other information to build or improve a profile about the user is verified as true. The evidence from reliable sources, including Google's own privacy policy and expert analyses on data collection practices, confirms that organizations routinely combine various data types to enhance user profiles and tailor their services accordingly.

Sources

1. Why You Need to Include Log Data in Your Privacy Policy
2. How to Write a Privacy Policy: 12 Steps for Compliance
3. User Data Collection: Balancing Business Needs and User Privacy
4. Privacy Policy - Privacy & Terms - Google
5. What is User Activity Monitoring? How It Works, Benefits, ...
6. PDF Privacy Policy - Google
7. GitHub General Privacy Statement
8. Privacy Policy