Gemini · Google · Android · Decrypt
Google Quietly Updates Privacy Policy to Let Gmail and Photos Data Feed Ads
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The change, which took effect Oct. 16 and was first spotted by Android Authority, adds a conditional clause to a pledge Google has made for years.
Key facts
- The change, which took effect Oct. 16 and was first spotted by Android Authority, adds a conditional clause to a pledge Google has made for years
- Users can opt out by disconnecting the apps under Connected Content apps in their Google Account’s Data & privacy settings, or by turning off personalized recommendations, though Android Authority
- The catch hinges on Personal Intelligence, Google’s push to make its AI tools more useful by letting features like AI Mode in Search and Gemini draw on a user’s own data
- Connecting Gmail, Drive or Photos to those tools delivers more tailored answers, such as surfacing a hotel reservation buried in an inbox
Summary
The exception hinges on Personal Intelligence, which lets AI Mode and Gemini draw on connected apps; opting into those conveniences can now also feed ad targeting, though it’s off by default and advertisers don’t see the underlying content. The updated policy now reads that Google doesn’t show personalized ads based on content from Drive, Gmail, or Google Photos “unless you choose to make data from these services available to other Google services that support personalized ads.” The catch hinges on Personal Intelligence, Google’s push to make its AI tools more useful by letting features like AI Mode in Search and Gemini draw on a user’s own data. Connecting Gmail, Drive or Photos to those tools delivers more tailored answers, such as surfacing a hotel reservation buried in an inbox.