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Google has documented a return of some Gemini image-generation features involving people, but it has not announced that every restriction has been lifted worldwide. In June 2026, the company said eligible users in the United States could create personalized images using Gemini, Nano Banana and Google Photos. That is a defined use case—not unrestricted permission to generate anyone’s likeness.
What changed, and when?
February 2024: Google paused image generation of people
On February 23, 2024, Google said it had temporarily paused Gemini’s ability to generate images of people while it improved the feature. At the time, generation was built on Imagen 2. Google acknowledged that it had produced inaccurate or offensive images, and that the system could overcompensate or wrongly refuse some prompts. Google’s February 2024 statement described the pause as temporary.
June 2026: Google documented a personalized-image feature
On June 29, 2026, Google announced that eligible users in the United States could use Gemini to create personalized images for free, combining Nano Banana with context from Google Photos. One example prompt was “create an illustration of me and my favorite things.” The announcement establishes that this particular people-related capability returned for the stated group; it does not establish that all users, countries or prompts have the same access. Google’s announcement provides the eligibility and use-case details.
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What can Gemini do with images of people now?
Google’s Gemini Apps Help documentation describes image generation and editing with Nano Banana, including using Google Photos labels to identify people and pets for generated images. This supports personalized creation using a user’s connected photo context. It should not be read as confirmation that anyone can freely generate any real person’s likeness in any scenario. Google’s help page also directs users to its terms and prohibited-use policy. Gemini Apps Help: Generate and edit images.
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Who has access, and what are the limits?
- Geography and eligibility: Google’s June 2026 announcement specified eligible users in the United States. It does not supply a complete country-by-country or account-by-account availability list.
- Personalization versus depicting someone else: The announced example centers on creating an image of yourself using Google Photos context. It does not document unrestricted generation of another person’s likeness.
- Privacy rules still apply: Google’s Generative AI Prohibited Use Policy prohibits content that violates privacy, including use of someone’s image without consent and non-consensual intimate imagery. Google says repeated violations may lead to restrictions on product use or the Google account.
- Connected-app choice: Google says connecting apps to Personal Intelligence is opt-in and can be adjusted in settings. Users should review their connected-app choices and applicable Gemini settings before relying on Google Photos personalization.
Google has not published a comprehensive prompt-by-prompt or worldwide availability matrix in the cited materials, so access and permitted uses beyond the documented feature should not be assumed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Bottom line: Is the ban lifted?
In a limited sense: Google’s later product announcement and current help documentation show that some people-related image generation is available again. But “Google lifted the ban” is too broad if it suggests universal access or unrestricted image generation. The clearest documented return is personalized image creation for eligible U.S. users, subject to Google’s privacy and prohibited-use rules.
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