More Control Over What Ads You Get in Gmail and Google Search with 'Why These Ads'

Google is introducing an interesting new feature which should be of particular use to those concerned about their privacy or just slightly more paranoid than the average person. Google will start adding a link to ads in Gmail and Search indicating why those ads were displayed.

Users will be told whether the ad was chosen based on their location, previous searches or other criteria. They'll also get the choice of blocking a particular advertiser from ever showing up in their Search or Gmail ads.

"Because ads should be just as useful as any other information on the web, we try to make them as relevant as possible for you," Susan Wojcicki, SVP for Advertising at Google, wrote.

"Over the coming weeks, we’re making improvements to provide greater transparency and choice regarding the ads you see on Google search and Gmail. Soon, you’ll be able to learn more about these ads by clicking the 'Why these ads' link next to ads on Google search results and Gmail," she added.

Google explained that ads are chosen and personalized based on a number of reasons, your current location, your current and previous queries, but also on your language. Google looks at these and more factors when picking the right ad to serve.

It has a big interest in picking the right one, if it's relevant for you, you're more likely to click on it, which means Google gets paid.

With the new "why these ads" link, you'll now be able to also know exactly why those ads were chosen. Google also debuted a new section for its Ad Preferences Manager which enabled users to see and edit what Google thinks is of interest to them.

In the new section, users will be able to block advertisers so that no ads from the same domain name will appear in Search or Gmail. They can revert that choice at a later date. Google says that the number of blocks doesn't affect an ads or an advertisers rating.