Google May Use Gmail and Photos Data to Target Ads

WHO:

Techmeme - Shimul Sood of Android Authority reported on Google’s privacy-policy update.

Ars Technica - Google is the company whose privacy policy addresses use of Gmail data for advertising.

The Verge - Google services named include Search, Gemini Apps, YouTube, Google Photos, and Workspace apps such as Gmail and Drive.

WHAT:

Techmeme - The update clarifies that Google may use data shared through Personal Intelligence from connected apps, including Gmail and Photos, to target ads.

Ars Technica - Ars Technica reports that Google’s updated privacy policy says Gmail data might be used for advertising, and that enabling Personal Intelligence gives Google more data for ad targeting.

The Verge - Google says users may allow certain services, including Search or Gemini Apps, to access data from other Google services they use, including Google Photos and Workspace apps such as Gmail and Drive.

The Verge - Google’s policy says an accessing service may process data users allow it to access to personalize content, including ads.

The Verge - Google says personalized ads may be based on users’ interests, activity, or personalized content from Google services, depending on their settings.

The Verge - Google gives the example that someone searching for “mountain bikes” in Search may see sports-equipment ads on YouTube.

WHY:

The Verge - Google says cross-service data access may be used “to provide you with a more personalized experience.”

HOW:

Ars Technica - According to Ars Technica, turning on Personal Intelligence provides Google with more data for ad targeting.

The Verge - Users may choose to allow one Google service to access data from other services; access and personalization are subject to the policies and settings of the accessing service.

The Verge - Google says ad personalization depends on users’ settings and may use interests, activity, or personalized content from its services.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 05:02 UTC)

Google has clarified that data shared through its Personal Intelligence feature may be used to target ads, including information from Gmail and Google Photos. The update concerns services such as Search, Gemini Apps, YouTube, Photos, and Workspace apps including Gmail and Drive. Google says users can allow one service to access information from other Google services they use. The service receiving access may then process that information to personalize content, including advertising. Google says the goal is to provide a more personalized experience, but the extent of ad personalization depends on users’ settings. Ads may draw on people’s interests, activity, or personalized content from Google services. For example, someone who searches for mountain bikes in Search may later see sports-equipment ads on YouTube. Enabling Personal Intelligence gives Google more data that can be used for ad targeting.

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(UPDATED October 23, 2026 23:21 UTC)

Google’s updated privacy policy says information from Gmail and other Google services may be used to personalize ads. Users can choose to let services such as Search or Gemini access information from services they use, including Google Photos, Gmail and Drive. Google says this cross-service access is intended to provide a more personalized experience. The service receiving the data may process it to tailor content, including advertising, subject to its policies and the user’s settings. Google says personalized ads can draw on a person’s interests, activity or content personalized through its services. For example, someone who searches for mountain bikes in Search might later see sports-equipment ads on YouTube. Separately, Ars Technica reports that enabling Personal Intelligence gives Google more data for ad targeting. The policy’s descriptions make clear that users’ choices and settings affect whether their information is accessed and how it may be used.