Google Rewrites Pledge to Bar Ads Drawn From Gmail and Photos

Google revised its privacy policy on October 16 to allow advertising shaped by the contents of personal accounts, an exception to a longstanding commitment against using Gmail, Drive or Google Photos data for personalized ads. Android Authority first reported the change.

The prior policy stated flatly that Google would not use such data for ad targeting. The updated version adds a qualifier: the commitment holds "unless you choose to make data from these services available to other Google services that support personalized ads."

The revision applies to users who have linked Drive, Gmail or Google Photos to AI Mode and other Search tools through Google's Personal Intelligence feature, which draws on a person's own content to generate answers and recommendations. Under the new terms, that same connection can route content into ad targeting.

Google says advertisers do not receive the contents of a user's Drive, Gmail or Photos, nor identifying details such as a name or email address. The company also states it will not show ads based on sensitive categories including race, sexual orientation, religion or health.

The policy text explains that users may permit services such as Search or Gemini Apps to reach data from other Google products, including Photos and Workspace apps like Gmail and Drive, to provide "a more personalized experience, subject to the policies and settings of the accessing service." It gives this example: Search may process some permitted data to personalize content, including ads.

Users who want to keep personal data out of ad targeting can disconnect specific apps from Search's Personal Intelligence features or switch off Personalized Recommendations through the Search Services Personalization settings page.