I think it was mostly location data but yeah https://blogs.gwu.edu/ipdgcsmartpower/2012/12/09/ingress-gathering-data-through-gaming/

There used to be a mobile game that would have you go around and complete tasks to fill out the map (still might be idk). That’s pretty much what google did with ingress

Pretty much how we do it. Private album for family. Google is of course tracking her face with every upload but atleast it’s not just out there.