Your Google Calendar ICS Link
Is Leaking Private Data
Last updated: 2026-03-18
When you share your Google Calendar's "Secret address in iCal format," the recipient can see every event's title, location, description, and attendee email addresses. Google Calendar's "See only free/busy" sharing setting applies only to Google-to-Google sharing — it does not apply to ICS URL exports. To share only your availability, you need an ICS filtering proxy like SafeCal.
What data is exposed in an ICS URL?
Per RFC 5545, an ICS feed contains these fields in plaintext:
- SUMMARY — "Job Interview - Company X (Final Round)"
- LOCATION — Street addresses, Zoom links, conference room names
- DESCRIPTION — Agendas, notes, preparation materials
- ATTENDEE — Full email addresses of all participants (mailto: format)
Why doesn't "See only free/busy" work?
Google Calendar's "See only free/busy (hide details)" permission controls access between Google accounts. The ICS URL (Secret address) is a separate feature that exports all event data as a standard iCalendar file. This export ignores the free/busy permission setting.
Solution: Filter your ICS feed with SafeCal
- Add your Google Calendar ICS URL to SafeCal
- Set the filter to "Hide All" — every event becomes "Busy"
- Share the generated SafeCal URL instead of your raw ICS URL
SafeCal also supports merging multiple calendars (Google + Outlook + iCloud) into one URL, keyword masking (auto-hide events containing specific words), and expiry dates for time-limited sharing.
Free plan: 1 feed, unlimited sources
Get Started FreeFAQ
What information is visible when I share a Google Calendar ICS URL?
Per RFC 5545, the ICS file contains SUMMARY (title), LOCATION (address/link), DESCRIPTION (notes), and ATTENDEE (email addresses) in plaintext. Google's 'See only free/busy' setting does not apply to ICS URL exports.
How can I share my Google Calendar without showing event details?
Use an ICS filtering proxy like SafeCal. It replaces event details with 'Busy' and generates a new, safe ICS URL. You can also merge multiple calendars and apply per-source filters.
Can I merge Google Calendar and Outlook into one ICS URL?
Yes. SafeCal accepts unlimited ICS sources and merges them into a single URL. Each source can have different filter settings.