Google has updated its privacy policy to clarify that using personalized artificial intelligence (AI) features in Search or Gemini Apps could allow the company to serve targeted ads to users.
This means that data from other Google services, such as Gmail and Photos, may be accessed by these AI features and used for advertising purposes based on user activity.
Sources and references
Original report
Google Says Gmail and Photos Data Shared With AI Search Could Be Used for Targeted Ads
The Hacker News
Read on The Hacker News (opens in a new tab)Ref 005RY9PX
Reported by 3 outlets.See who reported what
Cite this
APA
Interestana AI Editorial. (2026, October 24). Google AI Features May Use Gmail, Photos Data for Ads. Interestana. https://interestana.com/articles/google-says-gmail-and-photos-data-shared-with-ai-search-could-be-used-for-targeted-ads-005ry9px
MLA
“Google AI Features May Use Gmail, Photos Data for Ads.” Interestana, 24 Oct. 2026, interestana.com/articles/google-says-gmail-and-photos-data-shared-with-ai-search-could-be-used-for-targeted-ads-005ry9px.
Chicago
Interestana AI Editorial. “Google AI Features May Use Gmail, Photos Data for Ads.” Interestana, October 24, 2026. https://interestana.com/articles/google-says-gmail-and-photos-data-shared-with-ai-search-could-be-used-for-targeted-ads-005ry9px.
BibTeX
@misc{interestana_005ry9px,
author = {{Interestana AI Editorial}},
title = {{Google AI Features May Use Gmail, Photos Data for Ads}},
howpublished = {Interestana},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
url = {https://interestana.com/articles/google-says-gmail-and-photos-data-shared-with-ai-search-could-be-used-for-targeted-ads-005ry9px},
note = {Summary of reporting by The Hacker News, https://thehackernews.com/2026/10/google-says-gmail-and-photos-data.html}
}Credit the source
Original reporting: The Hacker News, “Google Says Gmail and Photos Data Shared With AI Search Could Be Used for Targeted Ads”, https://thehackernews.com/2026/10/google-says-gmail-and-photos-data.html(opens in a new tab)
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