Oct 2, 2019

Google adds new privacy options

Image: Google

Google is bringing incognito mode to Google Maps and allowing users to auto-delete their YouTube history, its latest moves to expand its privacy options. Customers will also be able to ask the Google Assistant to delete various types of data.

Why it matters: The company has been under fire for the amount of data it collects and said at its spring I/O developer conference that it would offer users more privacy options.

With the changes to Assistant, Google says consumers will be able to do things like "delete the last thing I said to you” or “delete everything I said to you last week" by voice and without changing any privacy settings.

Google had promised the incognito option for Maps back at I/O. At the event it announced auto-delete for web, app and location history and and, as of Wednesday, it is expanding those features to YouTube.

The bigger picture: Google CEO Sundar Pichai has said that in many cases Google can do what customers and advertisers want with less data.

Go deeper: Google's new emphasis — privacy

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Why it matters: Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, needs to win 425 of the 479 delegates up for grabs in order to officially clinch the nomination. There are a number of key down-ballot races throughout the country as well, including a primary in Iowa that could determine the fate of Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa).

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Iowa Rep. Steve King defeated in GOP primary

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State Sen. Randy Feenstra defeated incumbent Rep. Steve King in Tuesday's Republican primary for Iowa's 4th congressional district, according to the Cook Political Report.

Why it matters: King's history of racist remarks has made him one of the most controversial politicians in the country and a pariah within the Republican Party.

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