Google now says it may use your Gmail and Photos data to target ads

Google has amended its privacy policy in a way that could leave users of its personalized AI features seeing ads chosen on the basis of their personal data. The change was spotted by Android Authority.

The policy previously made a plain promise that the company would not use the contents of Drive, Gmail, or Google Photos for personalized ads. As of October 16^th, that promise now carries a caveat: «unless you choose to make data from these services available to other Google services that support personalized ads».

In practice this affects anyone who has connected Drive, Gmail, or Google Photos to AI Mode and other Search tools through the Personal Intelligence feature. People did so to let the AI know them better and return sharper answers and recommendations — but the same content may now feed ad targeting.

Google spells out some limits. Advertisers do not get access to the contents of Drive, Gmail, and Photos, nor to identifying details such as your name or email address. The company also pledges not to show ads based on sensitive categories like race, sexual orientation, religion, or health.

The policy itself puts it this way: services such as Search or the Gemini apps may, with your permission, reach into data from other Google services to make your experience more personalized — including personalizing content and ads. As an example, it notes that searching for «mountain bikes» might lead to ads for sports equipment on YouTube.

To keep personal data out of ad targeting, you can disconnect individual apps from Search's Personal Intelligence features, or switch off Personalized Recommendations entirely on the Search Services Personalization settings page.

Source: The Verge