Google has changed its privacy policy so information that users share with personalized AI and search features may also shape the ads they see. The exception covers data from services such as Gmail, Drive and Google Photos when a user allows another Google service to access it.
The previous policy said those services would not be used for personalized advertising. Language added on October 16 now says that restriction does not apply when a user chooses to make the data available to Google services that support personalized ads. A person connecting Gmail or Photos to Search’s Personal Intelligence feature could therefore receive advertising informed by the resulting personalized content.
Google says advertisers do not receive the underlying messages, files, photos or identifying details such as a name or email address. It also says it will not target ads using sensitive categories including health, religion, race or sexual orientation. The policy nevertheless broadens the consequences of opting into an AI feature whose immediate purpose is better answers and recommendations.
Users can limit the change by disconnecting individual apps from Search’s Personal Intelligence tools or disabling Personalized Recommendations in Search Services Personalization settings. The practical privacy choice is now bundled: granting an AI assistant more personal context can also grant Google more material for ad personalization.