Google links Gmail and Drive content to ad targeting for AI users
A policy update allows Search and Gemini to use personal data from connected accounts to shape ads, affecting users who enable Personal Intelligence.
By Chioma Kuznetsov ·
Google has revised its privacy rules to permit personalized advertising based on the contents of Gmail, Drive, and Google Photos for a specific group of users.
The shift departs from the company's previous blanket promise to keep those files out of ad targeting. The new language, spotted first by Android Authority, includes an exception. It states the pledge holds unless users opt to make their data available to other Google services that support personalized ads.
The timeline of the change is recent. The original policy text stated simply that Google would not use data from these storage and communication services for ads. On October 16, the company added the qualifier that changes the standard. This update creates a direct link between the Personal Intelligence feature and ad personalization.
The practical impact falls on people who connect their accounts to AI Mode or other Search tools. These users enable the tools to draw on their own content for tailored answers. Under the new terms, that same connection allows the data to inform which ads appear. The policy text notes that services like Search or Gemini Apps may reach data from Workspace apps to provide a more personalized experience.
Google has outlined several boundaries for this new practice. Advertisers do not receive direct access to the files in a user's Drive, Gmail, or Photos. They also do not get personally identifying details like a name or email address. The company says it will not target ads based on sensitive categories, which include race, sexual orientation, religion, or health.
The policy offers a concrete example of how the system works. If a user searches for mountain bikes, they might later see ads for sports equipment on YouTube. This illustrates how activity in one service can influence content in another, provided the user has allowed the data connection.
Users who wish to keep their personal data separate from ad targeting have two main options. They can choose which apps to disconnect from Search's Personal Intelligence features. Alternatively, they can switch off Personalized Recommendations entirely through the Search Services Personalization settings page.
