Google's Personal Intelligence feature now uses Gmail and Photos data for ads

Google updated its privacy policy on October 16.

The change allows content from Gmail, Drive, and Photos to influence the advertisements users see.

This shift is tied to the company's Personal Intelligence feature.

Android Authority first identified the revision, and The Verge subsequently reported on it.

Previous policy language stated that personalized ads did not rely on user content from those specific apps.

The text now includes an exception clause.

It applies unless users allow data from these services to be available to other Google services that support personalized ads.

Enabling Personal Intelligence appears to be the mechanism for this change.

The feature began a beta rollout earlier this year.

It permits Gemini to access data shared across Google applications, including Gmail, Photos, Search, and Drive.

The policy outlines how this data exchange functions in practice.

Users can grant specific services, such as Search or Gemini, access to data from other apps like Photos and Workspace tools like Gmail and Drive in exchange for a more tailored experience. Search may process this accessible data to personalize content and ads. Google clarified that it has not stated advertisers will receive the full contents of a user's inbox, cloud storage, or photo library. However, the revised language makes it possible to target ads using that connected content within Search. The company's stance on identifying details remains consistent with earlier versions. The policy still states that advertisers will not see personally identifying information, such as names and email addresses, without user permission. Personal Intelligence remains an opt-in feature for most users. Individuals who wish to review their settings can access the Data and privacy section of the My Account page. They should select Personalization settings and then choose Manage Personalized Recommendations in Search services. This page includes a Turn off button that disables personalized recommendations entirely.