Google quietly updated its privacy policy on October 16, adding an exception to its long-standing promise not to use content from Gmail, Drive or Google Photos for personalized advertising. The change was first spotted by Android Authority and confirmed by outlets including The Verge, Ars Technica and 9to5Google.
The old wording simply said Google does not show personalized ads based on content from Drive, Gmail or Photos. The new text adds a caveat: this holds "unless you choose to make data from these services available to other Google services that support personalized ads." In practice, that refers to Personal Intelligence, the feature that lets Gemini and AI Mode search pull context from your apps.
What Google's updated policy actually says
According to the revised text, you may allow services like Search or Gemini Apps to access data from other Google products, such as Photos and Workspace apps including Gmail and Drive, to deliver a more personalized experience. "For example, Search may process some of the data that you allow Search to access to personalize content, including ads," the policy reads.
Google maintains that advertisers never receive your Gmail inbox, Photos library or personally identifying details such as your name or email address, and that sensitive categories like race, religion, sexual orientation or health are not used to tailor ads. Ars Technica reports that Google describes the update as a clarification rather than a change in how it works with advertising partners.
Personal Intelligence and ad targeting
Personal Intelligence began rolling out in beta earlier this year. It lets Gemini share data between apps, including Gmail, Photos, Search and Drive, so AI answers arrive with more context about you. While the Gemini app itself does not currently show ads, sponsored content already appears in AI search tools.
