Google Data Collection Informed Consent

 

1.      Purpose. We are pleased to invite you to participate in one or more user research studies (referred to herein, both individually and collectively, as the “Study”) conducted by Google LLC (“Google” or “We”). The purpose of the Study is to help Google better understand the needs of its diverse users and to improve Google’s products and services (“Purpose”).

2.      Participation. By participating in the Study you confirm: (a) you are over eighteen (18) years old; and (b) participating in the Study will not violate any agreement with a third party or create a conflict of interest. Your participation in this Study is completely voluntary. You may choose to withdraw at any time during the Study without any penalty. You may also decline to answer any particular question you do not wish to answer for any reason. The researchers also have the right to end the Study or to suspend, restrict, or remove you from participating in the Study at any time and for any reason. If you are removed from the Study, we will notify you.

3.      Incentives. To thank you for your time and effort in participating in the Study, you will receive the incentive described in the screener form.

4.      Feedback. During your participation in the Study, you may provide comments, feedback, ideas, reports, suggestions, data, or other information to Google about Google products and services (collectively “Feedback”). For clarity, Feedback is separate from and not part of the Study data. Google may use any Feedback without any obligations or restrictions to develop and improve Google’s current or future products and services. You agree that you will not disclose to Google any third-party information that you are otherwise obligated to maintain as confidential. Google has no obligation to use your Feedback.

5.    Personal Information.

a.      Personal Information Collection Consent. With your consent, and solely for the Purpose, we may collect and process information that can identify you, including your name, email, and job title, in accordance with this agreement and the Google Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

 

b.      Audio/Video/Photography Collection Consent. This study may involve collecting audio, video, or photographs of you and your interactions with our products and services. For example, we may ask you to remotely share your device screen with the researchers to observe your interaction with the product or app, or we may video record your use of our services. With your consent, and solely for the Purpose, we may record your face, voice, physical features, mannerisms, likeness, and interactions during the Study session, in accordance with this agreement and the Google Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

6.    Sensitive Personally Identifiable Information.

With your consent, to ensure an inclusive participant pool for the Purpose and for aggregated reporting and analysis purposes, we may collect and process your sensitive personally identifiable information such as your race, sexual orientation, or health in accordance with this agreement and Google Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy

 

7.    Study Data and Product Data

7.1 Use and Sharing. Solely for the Purpose, we may:

 

(A) use Study data (including user surveys, interviews, usability evaluations, open ended feedback, etc.) containing your personal information, including audio, video, or

photographs of you, as applicable; and

(B) share that Study data with: (i) Google affiliates and (ii) certain third parties such as contractors and agents who agree to meet our standards for protecting Study data and who have a need to access the Study data for the Purpose.

 

7.2 Retention. If collected, we may retain your personal information in the Study data only as long as it is necessary for the Purpose. All other Study data that does not personally identify you may be used for any purpose without any limitation.

 

7.3 Product Data. Data collected by Google as a result of your use of Google’s products and services in connection with the Study will be considered Product Data, and may be governed by separate terms of use and retention policies. Product Data will be handled in accordance with those terms which will supersede any conflicting terms in this agreement.

8.      Data Transfer. You consent to Google processing Study data outside the country or region where the data is originally collected or where you are located, including in countries where you may have fewer rights about your information than you do in your country of residence. We may process Study data in the United States or permit Google affiliates or contractors acting on Google’s behalf to process Study data outside of your country of residence.

9.      Data Storage and Protection. We respect your privacy and use a variety of measures to protect your personal identifying information from unauthorized access and disclosure in accordance with Google Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

10.  Sharing with Third Parties. Google may want to share the Study data that personally identifies you with certain third parties such as Google affiliates and contractors who agree to meet our standards for protecting Study data and who have a need to access the Study data in furtherance of the Purpose.

11.  Google Confidential Information. This agreement and any information provided to you by Google during the Study are confidential (the “Confidential Information”). You agree to (i) use Confidential Information only for participation in the Study, (ii) take reasonable degree of care to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of Confidential Information, and (iii) not photograph, record, or share any Confidential Information with anyone. Your duty to protect Google’s Confidential Information expires five years from disclosure.

12.  Questions/Requests for Deletion. If you have questions or wish to have your personal data contained in the Study data deleted, please email us at uxquestions@google.com. The subject of your email should be “User Experience Study Data Request” and your email should include enough information (location, date, time, etc) so that Google can identify the Study data collected from you (if applicable). Study data that contains or is linked to your personal information will be deleted as soon as reasonably practicable, unless otherwise prohibited by applicable legislation or legal process. Google may, in its sole discretion, retain Study data that does not personally identify you for a longer duration or for any future study. Product Data will be subject to separate terms of use and may not be eligible for deletion under this provision. 

13.  General Provisions. Unless applicable law requires otherwise: (a) this agreement is governed by the laws of the State of California, excluding its conflict-of-laws principles; and (b) the exclusive venue for any dispute relating to this agreement will be Santa Clara County, California. Any amendments must be in writing. Failure to enforce any of the provisions of this agreement will not constitute a waiver. This agreement does not create any agency or partnership relationship. If any term (or part of a term) of this agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the rest of the agreement will remain in effect. This section will survive any termination of this agreement. You can contact your local data protection authority if you have concerns regarding your rights under local law.