Google Addresses Concerns Over Email Scanning for AI Training
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – Google is pushing back against allegations that it’s been secretly analyzing user emails to train its artificial intelligence models, following a class-action lawsuit filed this week. While the lawsuit claims violations of privacy and data security, Google maintains its practices are consistent with its stated policies and that user data is not used to train AI models without explicit consent.
The core of the dispute centers around newly enabled “smart features” in Gmail, Chat, and Meet.Users have expressed concern that these features, activated by default, grant Google broad access to email content for purposes beyond providing the core email service. The lawsuit alleges Google failed to adequately inform users about the extent of data collection and its potential use for AI development. This comes amid heightened scrutiny of tech companies’ AI practices and growing user awareness of data privacy.
Google asserts that the “smart features” - including Smart Compose and Smart Reply – utilize on-device AI processing whenever possible, minimizing data sent to its servers. Though, the lawsuit argues that even anonymized data can be re-identified and used for training purposes. The company emphasizes that users can disable these features, regaining control over their data.
To opt out of the smart features, desktop users should sign in to Gmail, click the Gear icon, select “See all settings,” and uncheck the box next to “Turn on smart features in Gmail, Chat, and Meet” in the General settings. Within the same settings page, users can manage “Google Workspace smart feature settings” and disable “Smart features in Google Workspace” and “Smart features in other Google products.”
On the Gmail mobile app, users can access settings via the three-lined icon, then navigate to “Data privacy” (iOS) or their Google account (Android) to toggle off “Smart features.” Further control is available under “Google Workspace smart features” to disable related settings.
Disabling these settings may impact the functionality of features like Smart Compose and Smart Reply, but Google assures users that core Gmail functionality will remain unaffected. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between convenience offered by AI-powered features and the need for user privacy and openness.
