DE — heise online

Google Now Allows Access to Gmail and Photos for Personalized Advertising

PolicyOctober 26, 20261 min read

Google has changed its privacy policy. It can now use data from Gmail and Google Photos to show people personalized ads, if they link those apps to other Google services.

Google can now use Gmail and Photos for ads

Google used to promise not to show personalized ads based on content in Google Drive, Gmail, or Google Photos. The company has now added an exception. The promise no longer applies if you share data from these services with other Google services that support personalized ads. This means Google may now show ads based on your emails and photos.

Why this change matters now

Google lets its AI assistant Gemini and the AI mode of its search engine connect to apps like Gmail and Photos. For example, Gemini can add a booking from an email to your calendar, but only if it can access your Google apps. Google added this feature early this year, and it reached Germany in April. The new privacy rules fit with this connection.

Key facts

Google promises not to share names or email addresses with advertisers. It only uses them to pick which ads to show.
Some sharing is allowed, but users must agree to it first. For example, your phone number is sent if you tap a "Tap to call" button in an ad.
Google still does not use personal data about ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or health for personalized ads.

What users can do

Go to the Google account settings, under "Data and privacy", and turn off "personalized recommendations in search services".
Know that turning this off does not delete data Google has already collected.
Deleting a photo or email probably will not undo data Google has already stored for search or Gemini.

Why it matters

Many people use Gmail and Google Photos every day, so this change may affect a lot of users. Your private messages and pictures may now help decide which ads you see. Users who do not want this need to check their settings and act on them.

Glossary

Gemini: Google's AI assistant that can answer questions and work with apps like Gmail and Calendar.
Google Photos: Google's app for storing and sharing photos and videos.
AI mode: A feature in Google Search that uses AI to answer questions in a chat-style way.
Google account: A single login that gives you access to Google services and settings for privacy and data.

Korea's Broadcast Review Board Issues 'Caution' Over Lotte Home Shopping's Exaggerated Broadcast

South Korea's Broadcasting Media Communications Commission (KCSC) imposed a "caution," the lowest statutory sanction, on a Lotte Home Shopping broadcast for a health supplement that claimed it could reduce body fat in specific abdominal areas. The board said the product's functional claim was only about general body fat reduction, and that the broadcast's claims of targeted fat loss and definitive effects could mislead consumers. Although a caution is the mildest statutory sanction, it can count against broadcasters in license renewal reviews.

Policy전자신문Oct 26

Dongguk University Graduate School of Law Holds Completion and Matriculation Ceremonies for Digital Asset and Deepfake Prevention Legal Policy Executive Program

Dongguk University's Graduate School of Law held a completion ceremony for the second cohort of its Digital Asset and Deepfake Prevention Legal Policy Executive Program and a matriculation ceremony for the third cohort on the 17th. Forty second-cohort graduates received certificates, and awards were presented to students recognized for their participation, academic achievement, and contributions to the student association and community. The third cohort, of more than 40 new students, will receive deepfake prevention training based on the UN digital cooperation SOiVA system.

PolicyVnExpressOct 26

Minister Vu Hai Quan: Amend Metrology Law to Protect Consumer Rights

Science and Technology Minister Vu Hai Quan told the National Assembly on October 26 that amendments to the Metrology Law must protect consumers, especially in daily electricity, water and fuel transactions. The draft cuts eight administrative procedures and adds the right to request extraction of measurement data related to transactions, while electricity meters, water meters and fuel dispensers will still require inspection. Lawmakers also asked for clearer rights to access data, refund mechanisms for overcharges, and liability for inspection bodies and faulty equipment makers.

PolicyThe RegisterOct 26

After threatening AI export bans, China allows DeepSeek to keep selling

China proposed restricting exports of some AI technologies in mid-October by revising its export catalogue, which requires licenses for covered tech, though open-source releases are exempt. Chinese state media said DeepSeek and MiniMax were authorized to continue exporting, a move that supports China's goal of building export industries. The expanded list also lets Beijing halt exports of AI deemed to be important sovereign capacity.