Google Says Gmail and Photos Data Shared with AI Search Could Be Used for Targeted Ads (thehackernews.com) 21
The blog Android Authority offers this TLDR:
Google updated its privacy policy to clarify that it could use information shared through Personal Intelligence to personalize ads. Gmail, Drive, and Photos content isn't used for targeted ads by default, but connecting them to eligible Google services could change that.
Digital Trends explains: Google has long promised that your Gmail, Drive, and Google Photos content never helps it personalize ads. However, since October 16, 2026, its privacy policy adds a catch. The promise lapses if you let other ad-showing Google services use that content. That means using Personal Intelligence, an opt-in tool that lets Google's AI search read your connected apps, does exactly that (via Google).
If you ask Google's AI Mode where to eat near your hotel, and it can identify your hotel from the booking confirmation in Gmail, find the location in Maps, and then suggest a few places you might like. That's the helpful half. The twist, however, is that AI Mode can also show sponsored results. Google mentions that the personalized ads follow what the question and answer are about. So, while your inbox never goes to an advertiser, it can quietly shape the answer, which, in turn, shapes the ads.
Google's defense is elaborate. First, it says connecting the apps is optional. Second, advertisers can't see the information or content Google accesses in your Workspace apps (including your inbox and photos). Finally, sensitive topics like health are off-limits.
Ars Technica shares the response they got from a Google spokesperson: that Google isn't scanning your entire inbox to feed their advertising profiles, but if you choose to pipe your personal data into an AI search tool — then the ads Google shows you could be based on that information. If you want to ensure ads never use your personal data in this way, you'll need to make sure Personal Intelligence is turned off. The easiest way is to access the Gemini settings for Personal Intelligence and disable the connected apps. These settings are also a few levels deep in your main Google account settings under Data & privacy > Personalization settings > Manage Personalized Recommendations in Search Services > Connected Content Apps. From there, you can disable connections to Workspace and Google Photos.
Digital Trends explains: Google has long promised that your Gmail, Drive, and Google Photos content never helps it personalize ads. However, since October 16, 2026, its privacy policy adds a catch. The promise lapses if you let other ad-showing Google services use that content. That means using Personal Intelligence, an opt-in tool that lets Google's AI search read your connected apps, does exactly that (via Google).
If you ask Google's AI Mode where to eat near your hotel, and it can identify your hotel from the booking confirmation in Gmail, find the location in Maps, and then suggest a few places you might like. That's the helpful half. The twist, however, is that AI Mode can also show sponsored results. Google mentions that the personalized ads follow what the question and answer are about. So, while your inbox never goes to an advertiser, it can quietly shape the answer, which, in turn, shapes the ads.
Google's defense is elaborate. First, it says connecting the apps is optional. Second, advertisers can't see the information or content Google accesses in your Workspace apps (including your inbox and photos). Finally, sensitive topics like health are off-limits.
Ars Technica shares the response they got from a Google spokesperson: that Google isn't scanning your entire inbox to feed their advertising profiles, but if you choose to pipe your personal data into an AI search tool — then the ads Google shows you could be based on that information. If you want to ensure ads never use your personal data in this way, you'll need to make sure Personal Intelligence is turned off. The easiest way is to access the Gemini settings for Personal Intelligence and disable the connected apps. These settings are also a few levels deep in your main Google account settings under Data & privacy > Personalization settings > Manage Personalized Recommendations in Search Services > Connected Content Apps. From there, you can disable connections to Workspace and Google Photos.
Revised Google Privacy Policy (Score:5, Insightful)
Just adds the word "Sucker!" at the end.
oh, goody (Score:5, Funny)
I should epxect to see ads for strippers, intimate Asian massage, and Atlanta escorts. /sarc
I can't wait.
Re:oh, goody (Score:5, Funny)
The ad networks already seem to think that I'm a 21 year old Hispanic female from Alaska that likes Celebrities and Cats. I would hate to disappoint them.
I would love targeted ads, if.. (Score:2)
...they weren't so incredibly stupid
If I was in the market for a product or service, I would love to see sales pitches from all suppliers of the product or service. I would not want pitches from stuff that may be vaguely related to my search or stuff completely unrelated.
If I decided to buy or decided not to buy, the pitches should stop, all of them.
Today, it's a mess.
I go to a tool site and look at a tool, decide that I don't need it, then get bombarded with ads for it.
I buy a tool, and then get bombarded
Re:I would love targeted ads, if.. (Score:4, Interesting)
the Facebook ad robot decided that I was a dentist (I'm not). Now I get bombarded with ads for dental equipment including 3D printers for making teeth.
I'm almost amused by the stupidity.
That means your digital sanitation is working. Keep it up.
I'm a middle aged male. Every time I see ads for tampons or pensioner insurance, I am pleased, because it means the ad providers don't know much about me.
Re: I would love targeted ads, if.. (Score:2)
You jest, but I actually requested my FB data a while back, and it listed my gender as female, erroneously.
Re: (Score:2)
You jest, but I actually requested my FB data a while back, and it listed my gender as female, erroneously.
If facebook got your gender wrong, you're winning.
What worries me is that the platforms use this info to generate totally bogus "viewer statistics" for "content creators." The creators see a dashboard that says 67% of their viewers are female, or aged 35-50, or whatever, and they believe the numbers. Those numbers are usually just a guess. Sometimes they are based on the viewers' own feedback (as if anyone tells the truth about themselves on the internet!). Occasionally those viewer stats are worryingly acc
I will be happy when (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I will be happy when (Score:5, Interesting)
I self host most of my things, so the smart phone is just a ssh client to mutt running remotely. Yes, that means I can't see pictures in mail, but that also means I don't have to see spam pictures either. Since I self host, I don't use gmail on the phone and perhaps only use maps. There's not a lot of overlap and the phone doesn't feel like a giant advert mill.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I just use Samsung Mail with my own IMAP server. Works fine, no ads.
Time to move off gmail (Score:4, Interesting)
This makes decisions easier...large US "free" email providers are simply monitising your data. Paying for a service is frown upon but luckily you can make your own free email server on your own free cloud instance.
Don't know how? Ask your favourite AI (failing that Gemini will tell you) - sure it's not as reliable or convenient as Gmail but it sure is a lot more private.
If you "choose" to enable it... (Score:3)
Of course, what's unmentioned here is that Gmail repeatedly prompts you to turn Google's AI on for the flimsiest of reasons.
Fortunately for me, at least, the vast majority of the time I don't touch their web interface - I access it via IMAP. But things like setting up new filters, or setting a vacation autoresponder, require using the web.
So basically.... (Score:3)
"sensitive", yeah ok (Score:1)
> Finally, sensitive topics like health are off-limits.
left unsaid: "...because those pesky governments have made it illegal, not because we have any respect for sensitive topics, or weird, probably communist concepts like privacy."
New boilerplate (Score:2)
Old and busted: By uploading user generated content you grant us a worldwide/free/perpetual/sublicensable/unlimited license to your content
New hotness: By uploading your content you agree to us using it for AI
Rather ciircular (Score:2)
Of course they use it for ads (Score:2)
Of course they use it for ads, Google is an advertising company. Not just any advertising company, an advertising company that famously discarded their "don't be evil" motto.
And their "AI" is useless, it can't even reliably summarize a couple of emails. Google sucks.
My user policy states ... (Score:2)
Yes ...
One ad and all your employees can lose their heads.
Take that, Google
Google is Evil (Score:2)
Solution: Avoid Gmail (Score:2)
For a long time now, I have advocated that users subscribe to a real ISP for their E-mail. Yes, that means paying for a service; but that also means dealing with a service whose business model is based on subscriber payments and not on selling your privacy.
At the same time, pick an ISP that allows you to have an E-mail address using your own personal domain. That will allow you to move from one ISP to another without having to inform your correspondents.