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
Automated content analysis is the mechanism by which YouTube Ads produces personalised advertising, meaning ad targeting is driven by machine processing of user content.
The updated policy establishes a new opt-in mechanism that allows Google services like Search and Gemini to access data from other Google services you use, including Gmail, Google Photos, and Drive, to personalize your experience and show you targeted ads. Previously, Google's policy stated it did not show personalized ads based on content from these services. Under the revised terms, if you choose to enable this feature, Google may use data from Gmail, Photos, and Drive to personalize ads and content, including through a feature called Personal Intelligence. You can manage this through your Google account settings to control which services can access data from other services.
View change record →Google's Privacy Policy now gives an effective date of October 1, 2026, replacing May 26, 2026. One passage changed. It covers information Google collects when you are not signed in, which it stores with identifiers tied to your browser, app or device. The policy previously said this lets Google show more relevant search results or ads “based on your activity”; it now says “based on your activity across devices.”
View change record →The updated policy explicitly discloses that Google collects data when you are signed out and stores it with unique identifiers tied to your browser, application, or device. The policy also expands the types of activity it collects to include 'media (like images, files, audio and video) from your interactions,' in addition to previously listed categories. The revised language reorganizes privacy controls into 'Search Services History' and 'Web & App Activity,' and clarifies that depending on your settings, activity from services like Search, Maps, and Shopping is saved as history to your Google Account. You can manage these settings through your Google Account privacy controls, including the ability to turn off Web & App Activity or adjust Personalized Recommendations in Search services.
View change record →Your content may be analyzed by YouTube Ads' automated systems to generate personalized ads and other tailored features.
How other platforms handle this
Mailchimp uses a combination of automated and human detection review processes to ensure that Members are complying with our Standard Terms of Use and this Acceptable Use Policy.
Such tools are used to support, and not replace, human review where required by law.
LinkedIn may offer you choices about whether you would like to use certain automated optimizations (e.g., to opt-out of automatic expansion of your specific targeting criteria or to participate in optimized bidding).
"We use automated systems that analyze your content to provide you with things like tailored search results, personalized ads, or other features tailored to how you use our services.Excerpt from Google's Privacy Policy
How Meta, TikTok, and Supabase restructured governance language across documents, jurisdictions, and consent frameworks through incremental document updates.
How 10 AI platforms describe the use of user data for model training, improvement, and development, based on archived governance provisions.
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Automated content analysis is the mechanism by which YouTube Ads produces personalised advertising, meaning ad targeting is driven by machine processing of user content.
Your content may be analyzed by YouTube Ads' automated systems to generate personalized ads and other tailored features.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 211 platforms. See the full comparison.
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