Google has updated its privacy policy to clarify that information from Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos may be used to personalise advertisements when users choose to share data from these services with other Google products. The change, which took effect on October 16, 2026, has raised fresh questions about privacy and how personal information moves across Google’s ecosystem.
The update does not mean Google has announced a blanket policy of scanning every Gmail inbox for advertising purposes. Instead, it highlights a potential advertising use of information shared through connected services and AI-powered features.
What Has Changed in Google’s Privacy Policy?
Google’s earlier privacy language stated that it did not show personalised advertisements based on content from Gmail, Drive or Photos. The revised policy introduces an exception: this protection does not apply in the same way when users choose to make data from these services available to other Google products that support personalised advertising.
The policy specifically mentions services such as Google Search and Gemini. If users allow these products to access information from their connected applications, that information may contribute to personalised experiences, including advertisements in Search.
This clarification is significant because it establishes how information shared across Google’s services could potentially influence advertising.
How AI Features Could Connect Your Emails to Ads
The change is particularly relevant to Google’s Personal Intelligence features, which can connect information from services such as Gmail and Google Photos to provide more personalised AI responses.
For example, a user might allow an AI-powered search feature to access relevant information from emails, travel bookings or stored documents. The additional context could help the service answer questions more accurately.
However, if information shared through this connection also informs personalised advertising, it could influence the sponsored content displayed alongside search results.
Google says connecting applications is optional. The company has also stated that advertisements will not be based directly on users’ Gmail inboxes or Photos libraries, and that sensitive information will not be used to tailor ads.
Google maintains that the policy clarification does not represent a change in how it handles users’ data with respect to advertising partners.
How to Protect Your Privacy
Users who do not want their personal information used through these connections can review their Google Account settings.
They should check which applications are connected to Gemini or Search’s personalisation features and disable access to Gmail, Drive or Photos where appropriate. Google also provides controls for managing personalised recommendations and advertising preferences.
Simply disabling personalised ads may not address every possible use of information shared through connected AI services, so reviewing those connections is important.
What This Means for Google Users
The update reflects a broader challenge for technology companies: features that make AI assistants more useful often require access to more personal information.
For users, the key consideration is how much data they are comfortable sharing across connected services. Before enabling AI personalisation, it is worth understanding what information the feature can access and how that information may be used.
The change does not establish that all Gmail content is being used for advertising. It does, however, underline the importance of checking privacy settings before connecting personal accounts to AI-powered services.
Summary
Google’s updated privacy policy allows data from Gmail, Drive and Photos to potentially influence personalised advertisements when users choose to share that information with other Google services supporting ads. The change took effect on October 16, 2026, and is relevant to connected AI features such as Personal Intelligence. Users can review connected applications and privacy settings to limit how their information is shared.
