Updated Google privacy policy says your Gmail might be used for advertising
On October 16, Google modified its privacy policy to remove explicit language prohibiting ad personalization based on sensitive content from Gmail, Drive, and Photos. The new wording opens a pathway for using such data in ads when it flows between Google services, particularly through Personal Intelligence—a system released in early 2026 that consolidates user data across apps for AI features. This policy shift represents a significant erosion of privacy boundaries Google had previously maintained to distinguish advertising products from sensitive communication and storage tools.
Key points
- Google removed privacy firewall preventing Gmail/Photos data from ad use
- Change allows data sharing through Personal Intelligence AI system
- New policy language uses equivocal framing instead of clear prohibition
- Reverses prior commitment to keep sensitive data separate from ad targeting
Summary and key points written by AI from the headline and a short excerpt, so they can be incomplete or wrong. Ars Technica did the reporting; read the original for the full story.
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