Yes. Google logs every search you make and ties it to your profile.
What they track:
- Every search query
- Which results you click
- How long you spend on each
- Your location when searching
- Connected to your Gmail, YouTube, etc.
Why it matters:
This data builds a detailed profile used for ads and “personalization.” It’s stored indefinitely and can be subpoenaed.
The fix:
Use a private search engine. Results are good enough for everyday use, and your searches stay private.
Most can be set as your default search in any browser.
See: Privacy browsers (many include private search by default)