Google Quietly Bought Mastercard Credit and Debit Card Records

It’s common knowledge that Google knows when we click on ads. But now, it also knows what we buy in brick-and-mortar shops, due to a deal it cut with Mastercard to get our transaction histories. The offline credit card spending data gives Google an unprecedented advantage over competitors such as Amazon, by helping it track users’ offline spending in stores.

It’s unknown whether Google has struck similar deals with other payment companies, though one source said that it’s approached other credit card companies. What we do know is what Google has already bragged about: it claims to have access to about 70% of US credit and debit cards information, shared through partners, though it hasn’t named those partners. (Bloomberg, August 30, 2018)
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To protect your privacy make it a habit to spend cash as often as possible for point of sale (face-to-face) transactions. Whenever you use your credit / debit card to make a purchase you create a record of that financial transaction, along with a location record of where you were on the date and time the purchase was made.

For on-line purchases consider setting up a Privacy.Com account that lets you generate one-time-use debit card numbers, and mask your personal identity when making purchases.