Google may use your Gmail and Drive data to pick your ads

Google changed its privacy policy so that content from Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos can help decide which ads you see. It only applies if you linked those apps to Personal Intelligence, a Gemini feature you have to opt in to.

What changed

Google normally does not personalize ads using content from Drive, Gmail or Photos. The new policy adds an exception. If you connected those apps to another Google service that supports personalized ads, such as Personal Intelligence, that content becomes available for ad purposes.

Personal Intelligence launched earlier this year. It links your Google apps to give more tailored answers in Gemini and in Google Search's AI Mode. The catch is that content you never shared in a search or AI chat could still shape your ads. Ars Technica notes that people may be offered the feature, and the chance to connect apps, without fully understanding the consequences.

If you never opted in, or never linked Gmail, Drive or Photos, this change does not reach your data. Google also says it does not scan your inbox, photos and files, and that ads will not be based "directly on your Gmail inbox or Photos library." Its policy still says it does not share personally identifiable information with advertisers.

It is not clear how Google will square those statements with the new exception.

What to do

If you tried Personal Intelligence, check which apps are connected and disconnect any you do not want linked. The steps are in the alert box above and they all happen inside your Google Account settings.