Google's privacy policy lets connected Gmail and Photos data personalize ads

Google updated its privacy policy effective Oct. 16 so content in Gmail, Drive and Google Photos can affect personalized ads when users link those apps to its AI tools. The change creates an exception to Google’s earlier pledge not to use such content for ad personalization, applying when users make data available to other Google services that support personalized ads. It is tied to Personal Intelligence, which lets AI Mode in Search and Gemini use connected apps to tailor answers. Google says the data is not used by default and advertisers cannot see account contents; users can opt out, though disconnecting may not remove Search Services History.