Google has revised its privacy-policy wording about personalized ads and content stored in Gmail, Drive, and Photos. The new language says Google will not use that content for personalized advertising unless users choose not to opt out of using the data in other Google services that support personalized ads. In practice, the change makes cross-service data use a key point for users to review.
What changed in Google’s privacy policy?
The earlier wording said Google would not show personalized ads based on content in Gmail, Drive, or Photos. The revised wording adds a qualification: Google may use that data in other services that support personalized advertising unless users change the relevant preferences.
This wording does not, by itself, confirm that every email, file, or photo will be scanned and used to select an ad. It does clarify that users should review their account settings and service-specific choices to understand how information may be used across Google products.
Could this affect the ads users see?
It could affect ad personalization when account settings allow information from multiple services to inform advertising. For example, a user might search for flights in Gmail and keep a travel itinerary in Drive. If applicable settings permit cross-service use, related activity could contribute to more relevant travel advertising. The exact outcome depends on Google’s current policies, the user’s settings, and which services they use.
Personalized ads are different from general ads. Turning off personalization can reduce the use of personal interests to tailor ads, but it does not necessarily remove advertising from Google services or stop all data collection needed to operate those services.
How to review and limit ad personalization
- Sign in to your Google Account.
- Open Data & privacy.
- Find the advertising or ad-personalization controls and review the current setting.
- Turn personalization off or adjust the categories and preferences available in your account.
- Review activity controls, including Web & App Activity and Location History, and pause or delete activity if appropriate.
- Check connected apps and AI-related features, then remove access you no longer need.
Google may change the names or locations of settings over time. Users should follow the controls displayed in their account rather than rely on an old menu path.
What role could AI features play?
AI features may use information users choose to connect or provide to offer more personalized answers and recommendations. That does not automatically mean the same information is used for advertising. Users should check the privacy details and permissions for each feature, especially when connecting Gmail, Drive, Photos, or third-party apps.
For instance, an AI assistant with access to a travel itinerary may be able to provide a more useful trip summary. Whether that information also affects ads depends on the feature’s terms and the account’s advertising preferences.
What privacy risks should users consider?
Linking information across services can create a fuller picture of a person’s interests and routines. That may lead to more relevant recommendations, but it can also raise concerns about unwanted profiling, mistaken inferences, or exposure of more information if an account is compromised. Reviewing permissions and enabling two-step verification can help reduce avoidable risks.
Does turning off personalized ads stop all tracking?
No. Turning off personalized ads limits ad tailoring, but it does not necessarily stop all data collection, account activity records, or service-related processing. Users can separately review activity controls, location settings, connected apps, and the permissions granted to individual features.
What should users do now?
Review the Google Account’s ad-personalization controls and activity settings, then check which apps and AI features can access account data. Pause or delete activity that is not needed, and remove third-party access that is no longer useful. These steps help users make informed choices about how their information may be used across services.
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