Provision record
Google · Google Privacy Policy · View original document ↗

Personalized Advertising Using Sensitive Category Exclusions

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Document Record

What it is

The policy states that Google does not use sensitive categories (race, religion, sexual orientation, health) or content from Drive, Gmail, or Photos for personalized ad targeting, and does not share personally identifying information such as name or email with advertisers without user request.

This analysis describes what Google's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

This provision establishes specific categorical exclusions from Google's advertising personalization system. The exclusion of Drive, Gmail, and Photos content from ad targeting is a material limitation on the scope of data used for advertising, and the prohibition on sharing personally identifying information with advertisers addresses a frequently cited consumer concern.

Interpretive note: The practical scope of the 'health' exclusion relative to inferred interest categories and health-proximate behavioral signals is not fully specified in the policy text, creating some ambiguity about the operational boundaries of this exclusion.

Clause Stability Stable

0
Changes
6
Months Monitored
Jul 9, 2026
First Seen
Jul 9, 2026
Last Seen

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Under this clause, Google's advertising personalization system is stated to exclude sensitive demographic and health categories, and content from Gmail, Drive, and Photos. The agreement also states that advertisers do not receive personally identifying information such as name or email address unless the user specifically authorizes this.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Opt Out of Arbitration
    Visit My Ad Center at myadcenter.google.com to review and manage your ad interest categories and confirm that your personalization settings reflect your preferences.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Personalized Advertising Using Sensitive Category Exclusions and similar clauses.

Compare across platforms →
▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
We don't show you personalized ads based on sensitive categories, such as race, religion, sexual orientation, or health. We don't show you personalized ads based on your content from Drive, Gmail, or Photos. We don't share information that personally identifies you with advertisers, such as your name or email, unless you ask us to.

Excerpt from Google's Privacy Policy

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (regulatory & governance intelligence)

1.

Insight

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Applicable agencies

  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
Google Privacy Policy
Entity
Google
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
July 9, 2026
Last verified
July 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-016581
Document ID
CA-D-00015
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
e3afa08c405a354175f73573062acfb3be4f7465ec3dba3410a8ca4258a72f61
Analysis generated
July 9, 2026 17:35 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Google
Document: Google Privacy Policy
Record ID: CA-P-016581
Captured: 2026-07-09 17:35:53 UTC
SHA-256: e3afa08c405a3541…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/google/google-privacy-policy/provision/CA-P-016581/personalized-advertising-using-sensitive-category-exclusions/
Accessed: Sept. 8, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Low
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Google's Personalized Advertising Using Sensitive Category Exclusions clause do?

This provision establishes specific categorical exclusions from Google's advertising personalization system. The exclusion of Drive, Gmail, and Photos content from ad targeting is a material limitation on the scope of data used for advertising, and the prohibition on sharing personally identifying information with advertisers addresses a frequently cited consumer concern.

How does this clause affect you?

Under this clause, Google's advertising personalization system is stated to exclude sensitive demographic and health categories, and content from Gmail, Drive, and Photos. The agreement also states that advertisers do not receive personally identifying information such as name or email address unless the user specifically authorizes this.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Google?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google.