October 27, 2026, 2:06 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Google has updated its privacy policies for personalized advertising. The change may seem minor at first, but it could be significant for users of Gmail, Google Photos, and Gemini. Data from these services could potentially influence personalized ads under certain conditions.
Previously, Google excluded such use for certain services in its privacy policies. Now, it depends more on which services users connect and what data they allow to be shared.
What Gemini Has to Do With It
This is particularly evident with Gemini and the Personal Intelligence feature. It can link information from various Google services.
Google provides a clear example: Gemini could recognize a travel booking in Gmail and link it with an interest in nature photography derived from Google Photos. The AI can then create more personalized travel tips. When searching for winter tires, Gemini could evaluate insurance documents from Gmail to determine the make and model of the car.
It’s not just about finding a specific email or photo. Gemini is designed to recognize connections between different personal data. The company describes how the AI can link information from email threads, photos, or viewed videos.
However, this does not mean that Google automatically evaluates private photos and emails directly for advertising. What matters is which services users connect and what access they allow.
Also of interest: AI shares data with third parties–and users don’t notice
Restrictions Apply in Germany
Personal Intelligence is currently not available in the European Economic Area. Therefore, German users are not affected by this specific linkage to the same extent. Nevertheless, it’s worth checking the settings in the Google account. Especially users who connect Gmail, Google Photos, or other services with Gemini should review what personal information they are sharing.
Those who want to receive as little personalized advertising as possible can adjust this in the Google account under “Settings,” “Privacy and Security,” and “Personalized Advertising.”