Google updates privacy policy: Gmail and Photos data shared with Search/Gemini AI features may inform targeted ads
Google updated its privacy policy, effective October 16, 2026, to state that users who let Search or Gemini Apps access data from other Google services, such as Gmail, Google Photos and Drive, may receive ads personalized from that data. By default, content from Gmail, Drive and Photos is not used for ad personalization. That changes if users opt in through the Personal Intelligence feature, which Google introduced in Gemini in January 2026. Android Authority first reported the change. The article presents it as a privacy trade-off for users, not a security incident or vulnerability.
Detalhes técnicos
- Personal Intelligence lets users connect Gmail, Google Photos and YouTube to get tailored answers alongside their chat history preferences.
- The feature is in beta for eligible users over 18 worldwide, except in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the U.K. and Nigeria.
- If users interact with AI Mode or Gemini while Personal Intelligence is enabled, the data behind the answers (Gmail or Photos content) could serve as a signal for ad targeting.
- For context, OpenAI began showing ads to logged-in adult U.S. users on the free and ChatGPT Go tiers in January 2026. It has since expanded ChatGPT advertising to 89 countries and says it does not sell customer data or let ads influence answers.
Remediação
- Disconnect individual apps from Personal Intelligence.
- Disable Personalized Recommendations entirely in the Search Services Personalization settings (www.google[.]com/search-personalization).
Linha do tempo
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Google updates privacy policy: Gmail and Photos data shared with Search/Gemini AI features may inform targeted ads
ler a análise desta fonte ocultar
Google updated its privacy policy, effective October 16, 2026, to state that users who let Search or Gemini Apps access data from other Google services, such as Gmail, Google Photos and Drive, may receive ads personalized from that data. By default, content from Gmail, Drive and Photos is not used for ad personalization. That changes if users opt in through the Personal Intelligence feature, which Google introduced in Gemini in January 2026. Android Authority first reported the change. The article presents it as a privacy trade-off for users, not a security incident or vulnerability.
Technical Details
- Personal Intelligence lets users connect Gmail, Google Photos and YouTube to get tailored answers alongside their chat history preferences.
- The feature is in beta for eligible users over 18 worldwide, except in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the U.K. and Nigeria.
- If users interact with AI Mode or Gemini while Personal Intelligence is enabled, the data behind the answers (Gmail or Photos content) could serve as a signal for ad targeting.
- For context, OpenAI began showing ads to logged-in adult U.S. users on the free and ChatGPT Go tiers in January 2026. It has since expanded ChatGPT advertising to 89 countries and says it does not sell customer data or let ads influence answers.
Remediation
- Disconnect individual apps from Personal Intelligence.
- Disable Personalized Recommendations entirely in the Search Services Personalization settings (www.google[.]com/search-personalization).