Google Says Gmail and Photos Data Shared With Its AI Features Can Shape Ads

Google says in an updated privacy policy effective October 16 that users may choose to let services such as Search and Gemini Apps access data from Gmail, Drive, Google Photos and other Google services.

The accessing service can use permitted data to provide a more personalized experience, subject to its policies and user settings. Google says Search may process some of this data to personalize content, including ads.

Google says it does not base personalized ads on content from Drive, Gmail or Google Photos unless a user chooses to make that data available to another Google service that supports personalized ads.

In practice, this applies when users connect apps such as Gmail and Photos through Personal Intelligence, which Google introduced in January. Content shared with AI Mode or Gemini this way can then serve as a signal for targeted ads, The Hacker News reports. The feature is in beta for adults outside the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the UK and Nigeria, and users can disconnect apps or turn off personalization in Search settings.