Google links Gmail and Photos content to ad targeting

Google altered its privacy terms on Oct. 16, creating a pathway for Gmail and Photos data to influence ad delivery.

The revision connects the Personal Intelligence feature to advertising mechanics. This feature began its beta rollout earlier this year. It allows Gemini to process information shared across Google products.

Previous policy text stated that personalized ads did not rely on content from Drive, Gmail, or Photos. The new text adds an exception. It applies "unless you choose to make data from these services available to other Google services that support personalized ads."

The policy outlines a specific exchange. Users can permit services like Search or Gemini apps to access data from other apps, including Photos and Workspace tools. In return, Google promises a more tailored experience. The document cites Search as a primary example. It may process accessible data to adjust the content and ads a user sees.

This update does not mean advertisers receive raw files from an inbox or photo library. However, the connected content can now inform targeting logic. Google maintains that personally identifying information, such as names and email addresses, remains hidden from advertisers without explicit permission. That rule matches earlier versions of the policy.

Personal Intelligence remains an opt-in setting. Users can review their status in the My Account page. Navigate to Data & privacy, then Personalization settings. Select Manage Personalized Recommendations in Search services to view the current state. A Turn off button on that page disables personalized recommendations completely.