this post was submitted on 24 Oct 2026
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Google quietly changes privacy policy so your Gmail and Photos could be used in targeted ads - Dexerto (www.dexerto.com)
submitted 5 days ago by spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works to c/technology@lemmy.world
173 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Google has updated its privacy policy to allow personal information from Gmail, Google Photos, and Drive to potentially be used for targeted advertising, raising new questions about how the company handles users’ private data.

The change, which took effect on October 16, introduces a significant exception to Google’s previous promise that it would not use content from these services to personalize advertisements.

As first spotted by Android Authority, the updated policy specifically affects users who connect their personal information to Google’s AI-powered services, including Search and Gemini.

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[–] BigDiction@lemmy.world -5 points 4 days ago (2 children)

The entities paying for the advertising demand it. It could be untargeted but the conversion rate falls so the ROI of paying ads is less, leading to less to spend per campaign.

Publishers can show the untargeted ads but they get paid less per impression.

[–] stringere@sh.itjust.works 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

And that's why it should be regulated heavily. Advertising uses scientifically backed methods to short circuit people's judgement and drive consumerism.

[–] BigDiction@lemmy.world 0 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I’ve already agreed the ads ecosystem sucks.

If you had it your way, small businesses could probably not afford to advertise online. It would only be businesses who could blanket the internet with their banners at mass scale without targeting.

We already have GDPR, TCF 2 and various other privacy frameworks and laws localized. What do you want to change?

I personally like publishers staying in businesses who produce valuable content.

[–] stringere@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 days ago

If a website can tell what zip code you're in based on IP, that's good enough. If someone is using a VPN and their approximate location is obfuscated, the USER can choose to volunteer their location if they want localized ads.

Targeted advertising of any kind should be voluntary.

I also believe billboards should be taken down. Advertisers have been given carte blanche to hijack our eyes, ears, and attention without permission for far too long.

[–] markjamestwn1301@scribe.disroot.org 2 points 3 days ago

That's kinda the point. If we can't have economic growth without considering the humanistic aspect of it, then maybe we don't deserve said economic growth.