Google Updates Privacy Policy as AI Integration Opens Ad-Targeting Doors

Google has updated its privacy policy to remove a previously explicit limit on using sensitive data from Gmail, Drive, and Photos for ad personalization, as Ars Technica first reported.

Previously, the company's policy stated it did not show personalized ads based on content from those specific apps. However, a policy update issued on October 16—first spotted by Android Authority—introduces language that may allow this data to inform advertising when shared with other Google services. This shift coincides with the early 2026 release of "Personal Intelligence," a feature that allows users to connect data from multiple apps to Google AI products, including the Gemini app and AI Mode search.

While the Gemini app does not currently feature ads, sponsored content appears in AI search tools. Ars Technica reports that if a user enables Personal Intelligence, summaries and insights derived from their personal data could inform the answers they receive in AI search, which in turn could influence ad targeting.

Google has defended the change, stating that connecting apps is entirely opt-in and that ads are not based "directly" on a user's Gmail inbox or Photos library. A Google spokesperson told Ars Technica that the clarification does not signal a change in how data is handled with advertising partners, asserting that the company does not scan inboxes to enhance advertising profiles or provide this data to third parties.

Ars Technica notes that while the feature is opt-in, Google uses prompts and pop-ups to encourage activation. Users seeking to prevent their personal data from informing ads must manually disable connected apps within Gemini settings or navigate through the "Data & privacy" section of their Google account settings.