Attention Gmail, Google Drive, and Photos users! Google has updated its privacy policy—find out how it will affect you..

Google has updated its privacy policy. Under the new terms, data from Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos may be used to display personalized advertisements—provided the user grants permission for data from these apps to be shared with other Google services. According to a report by Android Authority, this change was implemented on October 16.

Previously, Google’s policy stated that data from these services would not be used for personalized advertising. The new policy introduces an exception to this rule. This may affect users who connect Gmail, Drive, or Photos to Google’s "Personal Intelligence" features and AI-powered search tools.

How will data from Gmail and Google Photos be used?

Google’s "Personal Intelligence" feature is designed to provide users with more personalized responses and suggestions based on information from connected apps. For instance, if granted access to Gmail or Google Photos, Google Search and Gemini can generate responses based on a user’s activities and preferences.

However, under the new policy, data shared from these services may also be used to personalize content—which includes advertisements. This will depend on the user’s specific settings and the permissions granted to the respective Google service.

This does not mean that every user’s Gmail or Photos data will automatically be used for advertising. The use of such data will depend on the connected services and the user’s privacy settings.

Will advertisers have access to your personal data?

Google states that advertisers are not granted direct access to users' Gmail, Drive, or Photos data. Furthermore, this process does not disclose personally identifiable information, such as a user’s name or email address, to advertisers.

The company has also clarified that advertisements will not be targeted based on sensitive categories, such as race, sexual orientation, religion, or health status.

What does Google’s new privacy policy say?

According to the updated policy, users can grant Google services—such as Search or Gemini—access to data from Gmail, Google Photos, and Workspace apps to enable a more personalized experience. However, the use of this data remains subject to the policies of the respective service and the user's own settings.

The policy also clarifies that, depending on their settings, users may be shown advertisements tailored to their preferences, activities, or personalized content derived from their use of Google services.

How can users maintain their privacy?
If you do not wish for information from Gmail, Drive, or Photos to be shared with other Google services, review your privacy settings and the permissions granted to connected apps. Check which services have access to your data and determine whether that access is necessary.

This shift highlights an increasing link between providing personalized experiences through AI features and the delivery of advertisements. Consequently, it is important to pay close attention to data-sharing settings when using Google’s interconnected services.