Key Takeaways
- Google denies using Gmail content to train its Gemini AI model.
- Viral claims about email scanning are labeled “misleading” by the company.
- A recent lawsuit alleges privacy violations, contradicting Google’s official stance.
Google has officially denied widespread claims that it scans users’ Gmail messages and attachments to train its Gemini AI. The company calls these viral allegations “misleading” and maintains user email data is not used for AI model training.
What Sparked the Controversy?
The uproar began after a Malwarebytes article went viral, suggesting users could only opt out of alleged data collection by disabling Gmail’s Smart Features, including spell check and predictive text.
Google’s Official Response
Google spokesperson Jenny Thomson told The Verge that the company has not changed any user settings. She emphasized that Gmail’s Smart Features have existed for years and are completely separate from Gemini AI training.
“Gmail’s Smart Features, such as spell check, predictive text, package tracking, and flight auto-additions to calendar, have been part of Gmail for many years, and they are not used for training Gemini,” Thomson stated.
January Update Caused Confusion
Much of the confusion stems from a January settings update that separated personalization options for Workspace products (Gmail, Calendar, Docs) from other Google applications. While some users reported previously disabled features being re-enabled, Google maintains this wasn’t a policy change.
How Smart Features Actually Work
According to Google, when enabled, Smart Features use email content solely to personalize your experience—not to train AI models. These features power functionality like:
- Smart reply suggestions
- Package and order tracking
- Automatic flight calendar entries
Disabling these features limits personalization but doesn’t affect AI training, which Google says doesn’t happen regardless of your settings.
Ongoing Legal Challenge
Despite Google’s assurances, a proposed class-action lawsuit filed this month accuses the company of violating California’s Invasion of Privacy Act. The lawsuit claims Google secretly enabled its Gemini AI to access private communications across Gmail, Chat, and Meet without explicit user consent.
Google has not publicly commented on the ongoing litigation.
