Google changes privacy policy: Gmail and Photos data may be used for ad targeting
Google has updated its privacy policy to allow ad personalization based on Gmail, Drive and Photos data if users have connected them to personalized AI features. The change took effect on October 16.
Google, the US technology company, has changed its privacy policy so that people who use personalized artificial intelligence (AI) features may now see ads based on their personal data. The change, which took effect on October 16, was first spotted by Android Authority and reported by the technology site The Verge.
What changed
The earlier version of the policy simply stated that Google does not use Drive, Gmail or Google Photos content for personalized ads. It now carries an exception: this does not apply when users choose to make data from those services available to other Google services that support personalized ads.
In practice, this covers anyone who has linked Drive, Gmail or Photos to AI Mode and other Search tools through the Personal Intelligence feature. The feature lets those tools give better answers and recommendations by knowing more about the user. Such content can now also influence which ads the user sees.
Limits
Advertisers do not get access to the information in Drive, Gmail and Photos, nor to personally identifying details such as a name or email address. Google also says it will not show ads based on sensitive categories: race, sexual orientation, religion or health.
The policy gives an example: a person who searches for mountain bikes in Search may see ads for sports equipment on YouTube.
How to opt out
To stop personal data from being used for targeted ads, users can choose which apps to disconnect from Search's Personal Intelligence features, or turn off Personalized Recommendations entirely on the Search Services Personalization settings page.
