Google has altered its long-standing privacy commitments, opening the door to show targeted advertisements based on content from Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos if users enable its artificial intelligence features, tech news outlets reported this week.
The policy change, which took effect on Oct. 16, was initially spotted by Android Authority and detailed by outlets including The Verge and 9to5Google. For years, Google pledged that it would not serve personalized ads based on users’ stored emails, documents, or personal images. Under the revised policy, the technology company added a notable caveat: “unless you choose to make data from these services available to other Google services that support personalized ads.”
The role of Personal Intelligence
The change hinges on Google’s rollout of its Personal Intelligence system, which began rolling out in beta earlier this year, according to 9to5Google. The feature permits Gemini and Google Search to analyze connected Google Workspace applications—such as Gmail, Drive, and Photos—to deliver customized answers and recommendations without requiring users to explain context from scratch.
However, granting that access permits other Google services to process the retrieved information. As stated in the updated policy, services such as Search may process accessible data “to personalize content, including ads.” Depending on account permissions, activity drawn from connected apps could shape recommendations across platforms such as YouTube and Search, according to the documentation cited by The Verge.
Limits on advertiser access
Google emphasized that external advertisers do not receive direct visibility into private personal records. According to the company’s policy documentation, third-party advertisers will not receive files from Drive, Gmail messages, or photos, nor will they receive personal identifiers such as user names or email addresses.
Furthermore, Google maintains safeguards barring advertisements targeted toward sensitive categories, including health conditions, religion, race, and sexual orientation, The Verge reported. The policy modification instead governs how Google’s internal systems utilize data to place advertisements across its own properties.
How users can manage permissions
While the AI integration offers convenience by surfacing personal context automatically, technology reporters noted that users must adjust their account settings if they wish to avoid ad targeting tied to their files.
To sever the connection, users must navigate to the Data & privacy section of their Google Account, open Personalization settings, and locate the option to manage personalized recommendations in Search services, SammyGuru reported. From that menu, users can disconnect Google Workspace and Google Photos under connected content apps or deactivate personalized recommendations altogether.
SammyGuru also noted that even after disconnecting an application, Google retains previously saved data associated with the service. It remains unknown whether Google plans to expand similar data-sharing mechanisms to additional products as more generative artificial intelligence utilities launch across its consumer ecosystem.
