Google can now use your Gmail data for ads: How to turn it off

Google’s October 16, 2026, privacy-policy change creates an exception to its longstanding statement that Gmail, Drive, and Photos content would not shape personalized ads. The change applies when users connect those apps to Personal Intelligence features: Search may use summaries, excerpts, and inferences from their content to personalize recommendations, including ads. Google says connecting apps is opt-in and ads are not based directly on inboxes or photo libraries, but the information derived from them may still influence advertising. Connected data may also be used to improve services and train generative AI models; some AI Mode data may be reviewed by human reviewers. The feature is reportedly unavailable in the EU, UK, and Switzerland, although the revised policy applies globally.

Users can limit this use by disconnecting Google Workspace and Google Photos from Connected Content apps in Google Account personalization settings, or by turning off personalized recommendations. Those who use Gemini should check its Personal Intelligence settings as well. Disconnecting apps - or deleting the original messages or photos - does not erase information already stored in Search Services History; users must delete that history separately and can review ad preferences in My Ad Center. The piece argues that encryption can prevent providers from reading stored data, and promotes Proton’s encrypted email and file storage as alternatives, with instructions to import Gmail and calendar data or move files and photos using Google Takeout.