Office suites
Google Docs privacy rating
Google's browser-based word processor with real-time collaboration, part of Google Workspace alongside Sheets and Slides. Files are stored in Google Drive.
Summary
Google Docs scores 34 out of 100 (grade F) on the office suites criteria. It meets 2 of 8 criteria: transparency report and tells users about requests. It partly meets independent audit, TLS configuration and security headers. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry and no ads or data sales. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act. Automated tests: SSL Labs grade B and Mozilla HTTP Observatory grade B.
Score 34 out of 100. How scoring works
Criteria
- No
-
No
No trackers or telemetry Weight 3 of 3
Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
Google collects activity data across its services and uses it for analytics and personalized ads.
-
No
No ads or data sales Weight 2 of 3
Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
Docs shows no ads, but Google is funded mainly by advertising and uses account activity across its services for personalized ads.
-
Partial
Independent audit Weight 2 of 3
Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?
Google Workspace, which includes Docs, has third-party SOC 2 audits. Only the SOC 3 summary report is public.
-
Yes
Transparency report Weight 2 of 3
Does the provider regularly publish how many government and legal requests it receives and how it responds?
Publishes counts of government requests for user data and how often data is disclosed, updated twice a year.
-
Yes
Tells users about requests Weight 1 of 3
Does the provider promise to tell users about requests for their data, unless a court forbids it?
Google emails the user before disclosing information unless legally prohibited or in emergencies.
Automated tests
-
Partial
TLS configuration Weight 2 of 3
Does the website pass the Qualys SSL Labs test with a grade of A or better?
Grade B
-
Partial
Security headers Weight 1 of 3
Does the website pass the Mozilla HTTP Observatory test with a grade of A or better?
Grade B (70/100+)
-
Not tested yet
Modern web standards Weight 1 of 3
Does the website score 90% or higher on the Internet.nl website test?
Not tested yet.