Tech
Updated Google privacy policy says your Gmail might be used for advertising
Publication: Ars Technica - All content
Author: Ryan Whitwam
Source published: 23/10/2026, 20:19:55 UTC
Briefing created: 23/10/2026, 21:16:33 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 23/10/2026, 21:13:23 UTC.
Briefings
Google updated its privacy policy in October 2026 to allow Personal Intelligence to use data from Gmail, Drive, and Photos for advertising, contradicting previous assurances. This change enables AI products to leverage personal data for ad personalization, creating a privacy risk. The update occurred after Google released Personal Intelligence in early 2026, which allows users to share data across apps. The article notes this is a privacy minefield but does not specify the extent of data usage or specific user impacts.
Key points
- Google's privacy policy was updated on October 16, 2026, allowing Personal Intelligence to use data from Gmail, Drive, and Photos for advertising.
- Personal Intelligence was released in early 2026, enabling users to share data across apps to improve AI answers, which conflicts with previous privacy assurances.
Context
This finding is significant because it contradicts Google's long-standing claim that sensitive data from Gmail, Drive, and Photos would not be used for ad personalization. The update opens a new mechanism for cross-service data sharing, potentially expanding surveillance capabilities.
Limitations
The evidence is limited to the privacy policy update and mentions of Personal Intelligence release. Specific data volumes, user impact metrics, or exact dates of data collection are not provided. The article does not quantify the scope of data usage or confirm the effectiveness of the new mechanism.
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