Isophoric News · Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Google updated its privacy policy to say that data a user connects from Gmail, Drive or Photos to AI features in Search or Gemini can be used to personalise ads
Google updated its privacy policy, effective 16 October, to say that users may allow services such as Search or Gemini to use data from other Google services, including Photos, Gmail and Drive, and that Search may process some of that data to personalise content, including ads, The Hacker News and 9to5Google reported. Both quoted the policy as saying Google does not show personalised ads based on content from Drive, Gmail or Photos unless the user chooses to make that data available to other Google services that support personalised ads. Both outlets said Android Authority first reported the change. The two outlets link the change to Personal Intelligence, a feature Google introduced in January that lets Gemini draw on connected services. The Hacker News said it is rolling out as a beta to eligible users over 18 outside the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the U.K. and Nigeria, and that content from Gmail, Drive or Photos is not used to personalise ads by default. They differ on opting out. The Hacker News said users can disconnect specific apps from Personal Intelligence or turn off Personalized Recommendations in Search personalisation settings. 9to5Google said the ads data use cannot be avoided just by turning Personal Intelligence off, and described turning off Personalized Recommendations in the account's personalisation settings as a way to disable it entirely. 9to5Google also said Personal Intelligence remains opt-in for now, and that Google's policy still says advertisers do not see personally identifying details such as name and email without permission. Neither article included a Google statement beyond the policy text.
