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CloudLast verified May 11, 2026

Google Gemini data retention policy

Google's paid Gemini API and Vertex AI commit not to train on customer prompts and responses. Free-tier Google AI Studio operates under different terms. Verified policy summary plus how to route Gemini through Meetily as a BYOK summary provider.

Quick policy snapshot

Default retention
See vendor policy
Zero data retention available
Yes
Trains on API customer data by default
No

Gemini's two-tier privacy model

Google operates Gemini in two distinct privacy regimes:

  • Paid Gemini API and Vertex AI: Google does not use prompts or responses to improve their products. Data is processed under the Google Cloud Data Processing Addendum.
  • Free Google AI Studio tier: Google uses submitted content to improve products and services, including for machine-learning purposes, and reviewers may annotate inputs and outputs. The terms explicitly warn against submitting sensitive, confidential, or personal data on this tier.

Customers in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and the UK get the paid-tier policy applied to all services including free tiers, per Google's regional commitments.

When Meetily users select Gemini as their summary provider via BYOK, the tier you are on is determined by your API key. Use a Vertex AI or paid Gemini API key for production traffic.

Retention

On the paid Gemini API and Vertex AI, prompts and responses are logged for a limited period solely for safety, abuse detection, and legal compliance. Google's terms note the data may be stored transiently or cached in any country where Google maintains facilities, subject to your project's region configuration.

Specific features have explicit retention windows. Vertex AI grounding with Google Search retains relevant data for 30 days for debugging. Stored completions or assistant-style features may carry their own retention semantics; consult the feature-specific documentation.

Zero data retention

Vertex AI supports zero-data-retention-equivalent terms for eligible enterprise customers through contractual amendments to the Data Processing Addendum. To enable, contact your Google Cloud account team. Region pinning is configured at project creation and is the primary lever for data residency.

How Meetily uses Gemini

Meetily routes Gemini traffic through your own API key. Your project's tier and contract terms apply. The transcript text is sent over TLS to the Gemini endpoint for summarization, and the response is returned to Meetily and stored locally on your device. Audio is never transmitted to Google at any point.

If your project is on the free Google AI Studio tier, move to paid Gemini API or Vertex AI before sending any meeting transcripts that contain sensitive content. For stronger guarantees, switch your Meetily summary model to a local provider (Ollama) and keep the entire pipeline on-device.

Last verified: May 11, 2026 . Policy source: Google Gemini policy

Frequently asked questions

Does Google train Gemini models on my API prompts?
Depends on the tier. On the paid Gemini API and Vertex AI, Google does not use prompts or responses to improve their products. On the free Google AI Studio tier, Google does use submitted content to improve products and services. The European Economic Area, Switzerland, and UK get the paid-tier policy applied to all services including free tiers.
What is the default retention period for Gemini API traffic?
On the paid Gemini API and Vertex AI, prompts and responses are logged for a limited period solely for safety, abuse detection, and legal compliance. Specific durations depend on the deployment and contract. The Vertex AI grounding feature with Google Search adds a 30-day retention window for debugging.
Is zero data retention available for Gemini?
Yes, on Vertex AI for eligible enterprise customers via contractual commitments and the Data Processing Addendum. Contact Google Cloud sales or your account team to enable ZDR-equivalent terms on your Vertex AI project.
Where is Gemini API data stored geographically?
Vertex AI offers region selection at project creation; data residency commitments apply per the Google Cloud DPA. The free Google AI Studio tier processes data on Google global infrastructure without region pinning.
How do I request deletion of data Google has retained?
Use Google Cloud's data deletion procedures documented in the Google Cloud DPA. For Google AI Studio free-tier data, use the privacy controls in your Google Account.
Does Google Cloud / Vertex AI have HIPAA or SOC 2 compliance?
Yes. Google Cloud publishes its compliance posture (SOC 2 Type 2, HIPAA BAA eligibility for covered services, ISO 27001, and more) on cloud.google.com/compliance. Vertex AI Gemini endpoints fall under the Google Cloud compliance umbrella.
How does Meetily handle Gemini when I pick it as my summary provider?
Meetily transcription is always 100% local. When you select Gemini as your summary provider via BYOK, Meetily routes transcript text (not audio) to the Gemini endpoint using your own API key. The training and retention defaults on this page apply to your traffic.
What if I want zero retention but my project is on the free Google AI Studio tier?
Move to Vertex AI (paid) and use a project with ZDR-equivalent terms in the DPA, or switch your Meetily summary model to a local provider like Ollama. The local-summary path keeps the entire pipeline on-device.

Use Google Gemini with Meetily, on your terms

Meetily transcription stays 100% local. For summaries, bring your own Google Gemini key (BYOK) so the data path matches the policy you just read - or pick a local model if you want zero retention by construction.

Set up BYOKDownload Meetily