The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is an EU law that took effect on 6 March 2024. As a result of the DMA, in the EU, Google offers you the choice to link certain Google services. Those Google services include:
- Search
- YouTube
- Ad services
- Google Play
- Chrome
- Google Shopping
- Google Maps
You can choose to link all these services, choose to have none of these services linked or choose which of these individual services you want to link.
When linked, these services can share your data with each other and with all other linked Google services for certain purposes. For example, linked Google services can work together to help personalise your content and ads, depending on your settings.
Google services that can't be linked
For most users in the EU, there are no services that can't be linked. Some services that can't be linked for users in Germany.
Tip: All other Google services that share data with each other and are not named above are always linked.
About linked services
If services aren’t linked, some features that involve sharing data across Google services will be limited or unavailable. For example:
- When Search, YouTube and Chrome are not linked services, your recommendations in Search, like 'What to watch' and your Discover feed will be less personalised.
- When Search and Maps are not linked services, you won't be able to save places on Search.
Aspects of a service that don’t involve sharing data won’t be affected.
You won't be signed out of any Google services if you choose not to link services. Also, linking Google services is not about sharing your data with third-party services.
Manage your linked services
You’re in control. You can choose which of the Google services listed above are linked. You can review or change your choices at any time in your Google Account. Learn how to manage your linked services.
About your data
Learn more about how your data is used across linked Google services.
What data is usedGoogle uses this data shared across linked services for the purposes that are set out in our privacy policy:
- Providing personalised services, including content and ads, depending on your settings
- Maintaining and improving our services
- Developing new services
- Understanding how people use our services to ensure and improve the performance of our services
The choices that you make about linked services don’t change your other settings, such as choices that you've made to personalise Google services. They just expand the options that you have to control how your data is shared.
Your data from all Google services, regardless of whether they are linked, may still be shared across all services for certain purposes, like preventing fraud, protecting against spam and abuse and to comply with the law.
Your data may also be shared across Google services to effectively help you complete tasks when two services are offered together.