Google now ties your personal files to targeted ads

Google updated its privacy policy on October 16, 2026, to permit showing you targeted ads based on what's in your Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive—but only if you've voluntarily connected those services to Google's AI recommendation tools. The shift means that anyone who has linked these personal files to features like Search's Personal Intelligence or Gemini Apps will now see ads informed by that content. If you haven't activated those AI features, nothing changes for you.

Key facts

• Google's privacy policy changed October 16, 2026, adding an exception that permits targeted ads based on personal data from Gmail, Photos, and Drive.
• The change applies only to users who have voluntarily connected these services to Google's AI recommendation features.
• Advertisers cannot see your actual files, name, email address, or sensitive information like health or religion.
• You can disconnect individual apps from Personal Intelligence or turn off Personalized Recommendations entirely through Search Services Personalization settings.

What does this actually mean for my business?

If you use Google Workspace for your business email and files, and you've turned on Google's AI features to get smarter search results or recommendations, Google may now show you ads based on what's in those files. For example, if your Gmail contains messages about ordering supplies, you might see ads for those suppliers. The company says it won't target you based on race, religion, health, sexual orientation, or other sensitive categories. Advertisers themselves don't get to see your files—Google just uses the content to figure out what ads to show you.

Do I need to change anything?

That depends on how you feel about it. If you haven't turned on Google's AI recommendation features, you're unaffected. If you have, and you don't want ads based on your personal files, you have two options: disconnect specific apps from Personal Intelligence, or disable Personalized Recommendations altogether. Both are in your Search Services Personalization settings. The tradeoff is that those AI tools will work less well without access to your personal information.

Why does Google do this?

Google makes money from advertising. The more Google knows about you, the more it can charge advertisers to reach people like you. Connecting your personal files to AI tools gives Google more information about your interests and needs. The company is now saying that if you want that benefit, you're also accepting that Google will use that same information for ads.

Should I care about this?

That depends on your comfort level with data and advertising. If you're already using Google's AI recommendation features, you should know that your personal files are now part of how Google targets ads to you. If that bothers you, check your settings now. If you're not using those features yet and don't plan to, this change doesn't affect you. Either way, it's worth understanding what you're agreeing to when you enable new tools.

Sources

• Now Google says it might use your Gmail and Google Photos data to target ads - The Verge, October 23, 2026

They did the reporting. The writing and the opinions here are ours.