AI app rejected over Google user data — the Limited Use fix
If your app uses AI and touches Google Workspace data, one boilerplate sentence in your privacy policy can sink verification. This is the rule to get right.
Google's Limited Use rules bar using Google user data to train or improve generalized AI/ML models, to serve ads, to sell it, or to let humans read it without consent. AI apps routinely ship a privacy policy that says 'we use your data to improve our services and models' — applied to Google user data, that single line is directly fatal. Workspace-API apps also have to include Google's affirmative Limited Use statement.
Each fix below traces to a requirement Google publishes.
Nothing here is our opinion. Every requirement links to Google’s own page — open it and verify the fix yourself before you resubmit.
“Limited Use bars using Google user data for ads, sale, human review without consent, or training generalized AI/ML models — 'we use your data to improve our models' is directly fatal.”
“If you touch Workspace APIs, include Google's Limited Use affirmative statement in your policy.”
“Your privacy policy must disclose how the app accesses, uses, stores, and shares Google user data specifically — named per scope.”
Do these in order.
- 01
Cut the model-training language
Remove any wording that says you use data to train or improve generalized models, sell data, or serve ads — for Google user data specifically. If a scope's data only powers a feature the user asked for, say exactly that.
- 02
Add the Limited Use affirmative statement
If you use Workspace APIs (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets), include Google's required Limited Use statement in your policy.
- 03
Separate 'the model' from 'the feature'
It's fine to send content to an AI model to produce the output the user requested in that session. It's not fine to retain that Google data to train a generalized model. Make the distinction explicit.
- 04
Name the data per scope
Disclose, for each scope, what Google data you touch and how you use, store, and share it — reviewers look for specifics, not a generic AI clause.
What each scope actually grants.
The tier decides your path: non-sensitive needs only brand verification, sensitive needs a justification and demo video, and restricted needs a separate security assessment. Google’s scope categories →
| Scope | Tier | What it accesses |
|---|---|---|
| documents.readonly | Sensitive | Specific Docs content (read) |
| spreadsheets.readonly | Sensitive | Specific Sheets content (read) |
| drive.file | Non-sensitive | Only files the user opens/creates in the app |
See exactly what Google’s crawler sees — free.
Paste your URL and scopes. The pre-check fetches your homepage the way Google does, finds your privacy-policy link, and flags the blockers this rejection is about — in seconds, no signup.
Straight answers.
Can my AI app send Google data to an LLM at all?
Yes, to deliver the feature the user asked for in that session. What Limited Use forbids is using Google user data to train or improve generalized models — that language must be gone from your policy and your practice.
Which sentence gets AI apps rejected most?
Some form of 'we use your data to improve our services and models.' Applied to Google user data, that's a direct Limited Use violation.