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Google said it may use data from Gmail and Google Photos for targeted advertising. On October 24, 2026, The Verge AI reported that Google updated its policy, stating that users who connect Drive, Gmail, or Google Photos to search tools such as AI Mode through the Personal Intelligence feature may have their content used to serve targeted ads; Google also said that advertisers will not receive this data or identity information such as names and email addresses, and that ads will not be targeted based on sensitive categories such as race, sexual orientation, religion, or health, and that users can disconnect the relevant apps on the search service's personalization settings page or completely turn off personalized recommendations. On October 26, heise online reported that Google added a new exception clause to its privacy policy, allowing personalized ads to be served based on content from Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Photos when users make that data available to services that support personalized advertising, such as Search and Gemini; users can turn off personalized recommendations in search services in the account's "Data & privacy" settings, but data already collected will not be deleted as a result. There is currently no further development with evidence.
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Google says it may use Gmail and Photos data for targeted ads
Source:The Verge AI
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Oct 26
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heise online
Monday Briefing: Audi plans to spend $4 billion to build a factory in the US; Google allows personalized ads based on Gmail and Photos
Audi plans to invest $4 billion to build a new factory in the US state of Georgia, with an annual capacity of 200,000 SUVs and the creation of about 4,500 jobs, but the project still requires approval from the Volkswagen Supervisory Board. Google has changed its privacy policy so that when users link Gmail, Google Fotos and other Google services, it can serve personalized ads based on personal emails and photos; users can turn this option off. Mistral and DeepL, meanwhile, warn that if Europe focuses only on AI applications and gives up developing its own models, it will worsen technological dependence and trade disadvantages.
heise online
Google changes privacy policy to allow personalized ads based on Gmail and Google Photos
Google has added an exception clause to its privacy policy, allowing personalized ads to be served based on content from Gmail, Google Drive, or Google Photos when users make that data available to services that support personalized advertising, such as Search and Gemini. This change is related to Google's earlier move to let Gemini access data from more Google services; Gemini's personalization feature was expanded to Germany in April. Google says it will not provide names and email addresses to advertisers, and users can turn off personalized recommendations in the Search service in the account's "Data & privacy" settings, but data already collected will not be deleted as a result.
Oct 24
9to5Google
Google says that after enabling Personal Intelligence, Gmail and Photos data will be used for targeted advertising
Google states that after users enable Personal Intelligence, services such as Search can process Gmail, Photos, and Drive data that they have granted access to for personalized content, including ads. Personal Intelligence is still opt-in, began rolling out in beta earlier this year, and can share data across apps such as Gmail, Photos, Search, and Drive within Gemini. Users can go to Personalization settings on their account's Data & privacy page and turn off personalized recommendations via Manage Personalized Recommendations.
The Verge AI
Google says it may use Gmail and Google Photos data to serve targeted ads
Google updated its policy, stating that users who connect Drive, Gmail, or Google Photos to search tools such as AI Mode through the Personal Intelligence feature may have their content used to serve targeted ads. Google says advertisers will not receive this data or identity information such as names and email addresses, and ads will not be targeted based on sensitive categories such as race, sexual orientation, religion, or health. Users can choose to disconnect the relevant apps on the search service personalization settings page, or completely turn off personalized recommendations.
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