Updated Google privacy policy says your Gmail might be used for advertising
Google updated its privacy policy on October 16, removing a previous clause that explicitly stated it would not show personalized ads based on content from Gmail, Drive, or Photos. The new language is more ambiguous, potentially allowing data from these apps to be used for ad personalization if users have enabled the "Personal Intelligence" feature. This feature, released in early 2026, connects…
Key points
- Google removed a clause stating it does not use Gmail or Photos content for personalized ads.
- The update links ad personalization to data shared via the opt-in Personal Intelligence feature.
- Google claims ads are not based directly on sensitive data but may use context from AI interactions.
The story so far
2 episodes →- Updated Google privacy policy says your Gmail might be used for advertisingthis story
Updated Google privacy policy says your Gmail might be used for advertising
Ars Technica AI · 23 October 2026
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