Google policy change links Gmail and Photos data to search ads

Google has updated its policy to let content from Gmail, Drive and Photos influence the ads users see on the search engine. The change became effective on October 16 and is connected to the Personal Intelligence feature. The update was initially noted by Android Authority and later addressed by The Verge.

Earlier versions of the policy stated that personalized ads did not use data from Drive, Gmail or Photos. Now, the policy includes an exception, allowing data from these services to be used if the user chooses to share it. Personal Intelligence, which launched in beta at the start of this year, enables Gemini to use data shared across Google apps, including Gmail, Photos, Search and Drive.

The policy explains how this can happen in practice. Users may allow certain Google services, such as Search or Gemini apps, to use data from other services like Photos and Workspace apps like Gmail and Drive, in exchange for a more personalized experience. The policy gives an example: Search may process some of the data a user shares to personalize content, including ads.

The change does not mean that Google is sharing personal details with advertisers. The policy still states that advertisers will not see identifying information, like a user's name and email address, without the user's permission. Personal Intelligence remains an option for now. People who are not comfortable with the change may want to check their account settings. To do this, open the Data & privacy section of the My Account page and choose Personalization settings. This page also offers a Turn off button that disables personalized recommendations completely.

Google's policy change links Gmail and Photos data to search ads.