Google Will Stop Scanning Student Email Accounts for Advertising Information

Yahoo Tech
Updated
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(dodigital.co.uk)

Google will no longer try to sell ads based on personal information collected about students using a suite of products tailored for schools.

The changes announced Wednesday revise some of the policies governing Google’s “Apps for Education” products.

Among other things, Google says it will no longer scan texts of Gmails sent through Apps for Education for clues about students’ interests. The scanning gave the company a better idea about what kinds of ads to show them.

Google is also turning off Gmail ads for students using Apps for Education. Previously the Mountain View, California, company had provided a switch that allowed school administrators to turn ads on.

More than 30 million students, teachers, and administrators use the Apps for Education suite.