Gmail users advised to 'turn off' two features NOW amid email privacy concerns
Gmail users are urged to disable two features to prevent Google from scanning their emails for AI training purposes, raising privacy concerns.Summary
Google has automatically opted Gmail users into a feature allowing the company to scan their emails and attachments to train its AI models, like Gemini. This practice, activated in October 2025, has sparked a class-action lawsuit alleging Google secretly exploits user email history. Users must manually disable “Smart Features” in two separate settings menus – one in the general Gmail settings and another in the Workspace smart feature settings – to prevent their data from being used. However, disabling these features removes inbox organization like 'promotions' and 'social' tabs, turning Gmail into an unfiltered inbox.
The lawsuit, filed by an Illinois resident, seeks to represent all US Gmail users affected by the data scanning. The issue impacts all Gmail accounts regardless of device, and raises concerns about the privacy of sensitive information contained within emails, such as financial and health records. While Google states it uses the information to improve services, critics worry about potential misuse or data breaches.
Opting out also disables helpful features like auto-complete and spell-check, and some users point out that the privacy protection is limited if recipients of emails haven’t also opted out. Furthermore, concerns remain about Google potentially re-enabling the features without user consent.
(Source：Daily Mail Online)